He that Seeth Me Seeth the Father Also
Saturday, May 17th Readings Reflection: Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
“[H]e that seeth [M]e seeth the Father also” (Jn 7:9 DRB). Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel contain profound implications for us as members of the Catholic Church. Since the Catholic Church possesses the physical presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we see Jesus Christ—albeit hidden under the appearances of bread and wine—every time we see the Eucharist.
While the three divine Persons of the Blessed Trinity are truly distinct from one another, they are not distinct in nature; they share the same divine nature and are equal to each other. Only the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity becomes physically present in the Holy Eucharist, but since all three divine Persons share the same divine nature, we see the Blesssed Trinity when we see the Eucharist. St John Chrysostom gives the example of gold and silver. Gold and silver are two different elements; they do not share the same nature. When we see gold, we do not see silver, and vice versa. However, since the three divine Persons share the same divine nature, we see the others when we see one. For this reason, Jesus said elsewhere in St. John’s Gospel, “[H]e that receiveth [M]e, receiveth [H]im that sent [M]e” (Jn 13:20).
In a very real way, we receive Jesus Christ when we receive Holy Communion. When we receive Holy Communion in the state of grace, we receive the Blessed Trinity dwelling physically within us. The Father eternally begets the Son by His thought or wisdom, and the Holy Ghost is the eternal love of the Father and the Son. This continuous eternal act of begetting and loving occurs physically within us every time we receive Holy Communion. This reception of Holy Communion can be either beneficial for our eternal salvation or an act of sacrilege that, if we remain unrepentant, will lead to our eternal damnation.
May the truth of the Holy Eucharist inspire us to never receive Holy Communion unworthily, so that we may obtain all the possible graces from the Blessed Trinity’s dwelling within us.
