In just a few moments, I will hold up the consecrated host in front of your eyes and say the same words which John the Baptist uttered by the sea of Galilee when he caught sight of Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God!” And you will respond, while looking at that consecrated host: “Lord, I am not worthy...but say the word and I will be healed!”
We say these things, you and I, because we recognize Jesus, and like the Centurion, profess both our unworthiness and our faith in the presence and the power of Christ.
And how do we recognize him? Like John the Baptist, we recognize him by seeing with the eyes of faith.
Those of no faith could enter this Church and see the fancy gold safe with the little red light and think that’s where they keep the money. But those with the eyes of faith see the Lord, ever present, ever caring, ever ready to heal.
Those of little faith see in that crucifix a sign of failure, humiliation and disgrace. But those with the eyes of faith see in his death the end of all dying, and in his sacrifice, the forgiveness of our sins.
By this Holy Eucharist, we learn to see rightly, and to recognize him in his perfect Sacrifice, in the gift of his Body and Blood and in the breaking of the Bread, which is our hope and our salvation.
