O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth! — Psalm 8:2

Mass readings: Acts 3:11-26 / Luke 24:35-48 

The Real Presence 

I like to think I’m smart enough to know I’m not all that smart. In early college, I assumed if I just thought and researched hard enough I’d figure out this Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist business. Then, grace of God, I realized that was never going to happen but, grace of God, it didn’t need to. 

Today’s Gospel notes that the disciples say they recognized Jesus “in the breaking of the bread” — at the, during the, breaking of the bread when Jesus, in His resurrected body, was there. We don’t have that and, apparently, we don’t need it. What God offers us is faith in Him. Sure knowledge of the Real Presence without ever being sure how it all . . . works. Thank God we don’t have to know. . . to know.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the gifts of faith, of hope, and of love.