Words Have Power

Recently, I reflected on the section of the Catechism entitled "The Sacrament of the Eucharist".  Paragraph 1381 struck me in a way that I hadn't noticed before:

"That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that 'cannot be apprehended by the senses,' says St. Thomas, 'but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.' For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22:19 ('This is my body which is given for you.'), St. Cyril says: 'Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie.'"

Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived;
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.

We cannot apprehend the reality of the Eucharist with our natural senses, yet we dare not doubt that we consume the "true meat" and "true drink" of His Flesh and Blood (John 6:55) since He is the Truth and He cannot lie.

We have seen the power of the words of the Lord repeatedly, starting in the book of Genesis, "Let there be light!" (Genesis 1:3).  God speaks and the laws of physics must obey.  "Let there be light", and there was light.  "Let there be vegetation", and there was vegetation (Genesis 1:11).  "Rise, take up your mat, and walk", and the man became well and walked (John 8:8-9).  The Lord speaks and the laws of physics must obey.

The same holds true during the prayers of consecration during Mass.  Through the celebrant priest, the Lord says, "This IS my Body" (Luke 22:19).  Is the almighty God that is capable to creating light from a command, growing vegetation from a command, and healing a sick man from a command somehow only capable of a symbolic gesture in declaring His presence in the Eucharist?  I think not.  His words have power.  He is the Truth.  It doesn't matter what our natural senses detect.  If Jesus says, "This IS my Body", then we can trust in His power to make His real presence manifest as taught the Catholic Church.

Either Jesus has the power to do what He says, or He doesn't.  It is a matter of faith as to whether or not we receive His words and believe.  Let us pray the Holy Spirit continues to open our eyes of faith to the true and substantial presence of Jesus in the Eucharist so we may fully encounter Him and adore Him more fervently in the Sacraments.