The Power Of A Word
This simple observation gives us a most important key to understanding the Real Presence. In his How to Do Things with Words, the twentieth-century philosopher of language J. L. Austin observed that language has much more than a descriptive purpose, for at times it can be used to change and affect reality. If a properly deputized officer of the law says to you, “You’re under arrest,” whether you like it or not, whether the officer’s judgement was sound or not, you are in fact under arrest. His words have changed reality. Or if a National League umpire shouts “You’re out” as Anthony Rizzo slides into third base, the unfortunate Cub is, whether he likes it or not, in point of fact, out. An umpire’s words can, quite literally, change the course of a game. Now consider the case of the divine word. God’s word is not simply descriptive but is rather, in the most powerful sense of the term, creative. God says, “Let there be light,” and there is light; God says, “Let us make man in our own image and after our likeness,” and so it happened. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that the divine word goes forth and does not return without accomplishing the purpose for which it was sent. Now Jesus is not one interesting religious figure among many, not merely a sage or prophet, but rather, as St. John put it, the Word made flesh, Yahweh’s Word in person. Therefore, what Jesus says, is. When he said, “Little girl, get up,” she got up; when he said “Lazarus, come out,” the dead man came out, when he said, “My son, your sins are forgiven,” they were forgiven. The night before he died, Jesus took bread and give thanks, and then said, “Take this all of you and eat it, this is my body.” In a similar way, after the meal, he took a cup filled with wine and said, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it; this is the cup of my blood.” The divine word, which creates the universe, can change reality in the most fundamental way. By the power of the words of the consecration the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. The Eucharist - along with creation itself - is the most concentrated instance of a divine word event, and it is for this reason that the church has always insisted on the dense reality of what happens in the Eucharistic change. Exploring Catholic Theology Robert Barron pp170-171
Jesus promises, “I will be with you always” (Mt 28, 20) Take him at his word … he’s waiting.
Fortunately for us he’s patient, but that doesn’t mean you should delay, because you really don’t know how much time you have. Go spend time in his presence by visiting the Adoration Chapel.
