Corpus Christi Homily
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Hidden Treasure
A man traveled from England to India to try his hand
at making a fortune. As luck would have it, he was immensely successful, and
after a few years, he traveled back to England on a ship laden with gold,
jewels, and spices. As he got to England, he told his servants to wait on the
ship until he found someone with whom to share his newfound fortune. Changing
into the clothes of one of the servants, he went into town to the house of his
brother.
“Dear brother,” he said, “I have just returned from
India, having lost everything there. Could I stay with you for a while until I
find a job?”
But his brother took one look at his shabby clothing
and said, no, he simply couldn’t accept his brother into his house, because his
house was too full.
So the man went then to his sister’s house and asked
her the same thing. But upon seeing how poorly he was dressed, she said that
she couldn’t afford another mouth to feed, so there was no way he could stay at
her house.
A third time the man went to his uncle’s house, but
his uncle could find simply no way that he could take in his poor relative.
Finally, he went to his friend’s house, but his
friend was too busy with his own work to concern himself with this moocher.
The man returned to the ship and changed into his
luxurious, expensive clothes, and brought all of his servants carrying chests
of gold through the streets of London. Everyone began to be amazed at this
once-ordinary man returning as a prince. When the man encountered his family,
they were all very repentant of their former behavior and asked the man to stay
with them. The man replied, “If you did not accept me when I came to you in
humble attire, I will not stay with you now that you see me in my glory.”
The Eucharist doesn’t look like much, to be certain.
But it contains the greatest treasure humankind has ever known – the true
presence of our God, His very Flesh and Blood. All the love we’ve ever looked
for in life, all the healing we’ve ever needed – it can be found right here in
this small white Host we will receive in a few short moments.
In the parable, the man who didn’t look like much was
actually the wealthiest man in the land, but he wasn’t received worthily by his
family. In the same way, the Eucharist looks and tastes pretty ordinary, but it
actually contains the greatest riches of God’s grace. How many of us treat Him
like an ordinary snack when in reality it is the greatest gift we could ever
receive?
When we eat ordinary food, it is changed into a part
of us. Our tuna fish sandwich becomes energy, and our body takes out the
vitamins and minerals it needs. But when we consume the Eucharist, we become
more a part of Him. After all, it’s called holy Communion because we have union
with Jesus through this Sacrament.
Our senses don’t recognize Jesus’ presence, but
there’s a lot that we don’t see. For example, when I look at you, I don’t see
your soul, but I know through faith that you have a soul. I can’t see the bond
of marriage that joins two people into a holy covenant, but it’s there
nonetheless. Likewise, although I can’t physically see Jesus’ presence, I
recognize that it’s there. It’s a hidden presence, but nonetheless truly there.
Much like the man in the parable whose wealth and glory were hidden beneath
humble clothes, a tremendous gift of the true Flesh and Blood, the Grace and
the Love of Jesus Christ are hidden here, beneath the sacramental signs. Never
doubt His True Presence! It’s the treasure beyond all other treasures!
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