FOR WE SHOULD FIX OUR GAZE ON HIM

The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews, not only did it offer us a splendid apologetics vis-a-vis the relationship of Jewish and the emerging Christian Tradition. But in a sense gave us a cosmological perspective of God’s plan of salvation and the history of salvation. Christ is the central figure in this cosmology. All converge on him. The typologies of the Old Testament, the temple worship and even the history of Israel points to Christ as the apex of God’s plan of redemption.

There is one verse from the Hebrews that impressed me. It says: “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” [Hebrews 12:2, NRSV). I fondly remember that during our college days, I have memorized this verse by heart and would often recite this verse each time I am challenged or whenever I was tempted to give up. But as time went on and as I mature, I come to a deeper understanding of the meaning of this verse. And today I would like to meditate on this verse in reference to the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

The Eucharist is called the most Blessed Sacrament. Of all the sacrament this is the most blessed because it brings us the Body and Blood of Jesus in a real way. The Eucharist brings us to the foot of the cross on Calvary. It allows us to share in the benefits of the bloody sacrifice of Christ in an unbloody manner. Some people find it hard to believe in the real presence of Christ in the sacrament. Lamentably this unbelief has distorted the meaning of this most blessed sacrament. The consequence is that the sacrament was viewed by the heretics as mere supper, or a simple memorial. The Eucharist is not a repetition of the last supper. The last supper was not the means by which Christ made perfect the redemption, it was simply the form of memorial that He would want us to commemorate his death. The redemption of humankind was made perfect by the Passion of Christ and His death on the Cross. Christ’s death was propitious. It appeased the anger of God over sin, and it paid the ultimate prince no one could ever pay except through the sacrifice of Christ. That is why and most often, and sadly in some churches, the crucifix is missing during the Mass, or to the most it is relegated to the side of the altar, when in fact it should be located in front of the altar, as the crucified Lord is the focal point of the Sacrifice.
I opined that if we understood the meaning of salvation history, if we are nourished by instruction and meditation about the life and passion of Our Lord, the more we will benefit from the Holy Mass. For as Saint Paul said, that we should pray with understanding. For the more we understand the more it will help us. For faith comes through hearing of the word, and that is the Word of God. Believing is facilitated by the message. And how can the message be delivered when there is no messenger. This is the reason why we need to pray without ceasing that the Lord will send workers to His harvest. Good catechises and instruction is what is needed in order for the faithful to truly benefit from the mass and be edified. The faithful does not need entertainment. Sometimes I find it in poor taste when some homilist would crack jokes, would tell non-sense anecdotes, or imitate the handclapping styles of televangelists. The people need not be entertained. What they need is a straightforward and serious discourse on matters of faith, doctrine and instruction. A well prepared homily, grounded in sound theology, biblical and sometimes even quoting from Patristic sources would certainly help. For as we hear the homily, we are hearing the Word of God. Faith comes from listening to the word of God. A good homily prepares our hearts to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. For as we gaze upon Him the author and finisher of our faith, we grow up in Him and are slowly moulded into His image, that we may be conformed to Him day by day until we sit with him in that heavenly banquet in the last day.
Should not the Holy Eucharist help us fix our gaze on Him. When we are confronted by doubts, when we need the consolation of the Lord, when we experience the “Dark Night of the Soul” as St. John of the Cross would have us understand, shall we not fixed our gaze on Him who offers us Himself in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Should not this sacrament move us to reconciliation and peace? Should not our gazing on the Lord, truly present in the form of Bread and Wine, move us to a higher level of faith? For us we receive this communion, it should move us to thanksgiving and heartfelt gratitude. As the Scripture aptly puts it: “What shall I give in return to the Lord for all the blessings that He has given me? I shall take the cup of salvation and give thanks unto the Lord!”. Indeed we exclaim, “O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and thanksgiving be every moment thine!”
Shall we not fixed our gaze on Him, who is the source of our life and happiness?
May our hearts be filled with thanksgiving and may He guide us into everlasting life. Amen.