5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

In our readings today, both Isaiah and St. Peter found themselves in the very presence of God. And their immediate response was the same, they fell upon their knees, overwhelmed by a feeling of unworthiness.

St. Peter says: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man,” and Isaiah: “I am a man of unclean lips living among a people of unclean lips.” Both, fully aware that they were, indeed, in the presence of holiness itself, and, yet, both feeling not just that they shouldn’t be given such an opportunity, but that they were the last people who should be granted such an amazing privilege.

Yet, every time we enter this church, anytime we enter any Catholic Church we are given the same exact privilege, because we come, as nowhere else in the world, into the very presence of God Himself. For, we believe that in that tabernacle God truly dwells, which is why, when we enter this Church, we, too, show a sign of reverence by a bow or a genuflection and then, just like Isaiah and St. Peter, knowing that we are in the presence of holiness, knowing that we are in the very presence of God, we fall upon our knees.

The difference, however, is that sometimes it is not as clear to us as it should be, sometimes, we are unaware of the great and profound reality before us, because, unlike what Isaiah and St. Peter experienced face to face, to us, He is hidden, because, to us, all we see is what appears to be a white piece of bread. Yet, it was St. Teresa of Avila, who put it well, she said: “The King of Glory has concealed His majesty under the appearance of bread in the Blessed Sacrament to encourage us to approach His Divine Heart with greater confidence.”

For, if we saw Him as Isaiah and St. Peter saw Him, we might never approach Him, we might be too overwhelmed, too afraid, feel too unworthy, maybe not even receive communion and, instead, leave His presence. And yet, that is why He comes to us as He does, in the form of bread and wine, that is why He remains in this church for our sake, because He loves us and wants us to approach Him always, in confidence, in faith and free of fear.

In fact, if we were granted the ability to see this Mass with spiritual eyes, as it were, we would not only see Jesus Himself dwelling upon this altar, we would see a similar scene from our first reading today, a multitude of countless angels surrounding this altar, on their knees, in adoration.

Yet, when Jesus is not upon this altar, He is in that tabernacle, so that if He is not feeding us physically, He can continue to feed us spiritually. In fact, St. Alphonsus Ligouri, in his book of meditations, Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, prays a beautiful prayer, he says: “My most beloved Jesus, hidden under the sacramental veils, it is because of Your love for me that You remain night and day enclosed in this Tabernacle.”

And, truly, there really is no other reason, He stays there and waits for us, this is why, in the darkest of Churches there is always a candle burning before the Tabernacle, it is a light to guide us to the light of the world.

It is a beautiful and unique opportunity that we are given, because we can come into the very presence of God anytime of day or night, anytime a Church is opened, we can, as it says in our Gospel, go out into the deep, overwhelmed by the endless depth of God alone.

Therefore, let us spend time in His presence every single day, and like Isaiah and St. Peter, fall upon our knees in faith and in humility, and cry out with the Seraphim, the highest angels before the throne of God: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts.”

Lord, if you will (Sundays and Solemnities)

Add a comment