The WORD in Other Words by Fr Leonardo Mercado SVD
The text illustrates the many forms of the Risen Christ’s presence. The two grieving apostles who are sadly walking to Emmaus are joined incognito by the Risen Lord who said before that that he was present where two or three were gathered in his name.
Also, the Bible may be compared to a piece of music where the printed page becomes “alive” when performed. That includes the role of faith.
Furthermore, during the Last Judgment (Mt. 25:3146), the Risen Lord says that he will mete out judgment by their reaction to the hidden Christ in the guise of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the ill, the prisoner.
According to Vatican II’s document on liturgy (no. 6):
Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, “the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross”, but especially under the Eucharistic species.
By His power He is present in the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church.
He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20) .
– Fr. Leonardo N. Mercado, SVD (Catholic Trade, Manila)
Source – The WORD in Other Words, Bible Diary 2020
