Discerning the Real Presence of Jesus Christ

“Jesus himself came near and went with them.” In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The disciples of Jesus spent a significant amount of time with him; living with him, eating with him, traveling with him. In all this time spent with Jesus, they got to know him. It’s likely that they were familiar with his mannerisms, his humor, his laugh, his voice, even his scent. Why, then, do they fail to discern him on the road to Emmaus? More significantly for us, why do we fail to discern Christ’s presence in our own lives?

The first matter that we must settle in our minds and hearts is to acknowledge that Jesus is, in fact, alive and active. Jesus is at even now at the right hand of the Father. The first deacon and martyr of the church, St. Stephen, attested to that fact in his vision. He said in the Acts of the Apostles, at the moment of his death, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7.56). Jesus’s rightful place is at the right hand of the Father, where he intercedes on our behalf. We also believe and know that Christ’s presence is with and among us. We know that because his Holy Spirit indwells us and empowers us to do good works for his glory. We also boldly affirm his real presence given to us in the sacraments of the Church. The sacraments are those visible, tangible signs and symbols that convey to us God’s real presence. He uses the lowliest of physical signs (bread, water, wine, and oil) to give us his most precious self. Christ is with us, and his real presence is here. His real presence is in every place that truly seeks to glorify the Father.

The problem remains: that we, as well as the disciples in the Gospels, fail to discern the presence of God in our midst. There’s a big difference between people who discern the presence of Christ, and act accordingly, and those who do not. Those who do not discern the real presence of Christ carry on with their lives as if nothing has changed. Jesus could stand right in front of them and they would continue in their sin and wickedness. Others, who discern the presence of Jesus, recognize that the burning in their heart is their bodily reaction to the very presence of their Lord. We see that in the Acts of the Apostles.

In the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we are confronted with a group of believers who have discerned the real presence of Jesus in their midst, and who have intentionally decided to demonstrate to the world the goodness of God. The second chapter of Acts of the Apostles says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people” (Acts of the Apostles 2.43-47).

Can you imagine that happening now and here, with those believers around you? Can you picture it? This is God’s intent for his Church. There is undeniable evidence of those who are truly convinced that the Lord is in their midst. Those who have discerned the real presence of Jesus are like trees planted by streams of water. Psalm 1, verse 3, says that these people are “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” Nourished by the real presence of Jesus, the Christian is empowered to live generously as Christ did.

I must confess to you that I desire this transformation for this congregation. I desire, more than anything else, that we would become like the early church in the Acts of the Apostles. The Lord is in our midst. Is your heart burning with you? Have you discerned him yet? Are you ready to live not for your will, but for the Father’s will?

+In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.