Do you really want God’s presence?

Then do I have a revival for you!

As you may have noticed, there has been a lot of discussion about whether the goings on at Asbury College are a real deal revival.  I do not have a strong opinion on that.  But if they have a bonfire of electric guitars, drums, “worship and praise” songbooks and of other diverse enormities, that would get my attention.  From what I hear, that has not happened.

Besides, Asbury has nothing on my church.  We have a revival of the very presence of Jesus every Sunday.  Yes, we do.

You see, my Anglican church has a faithful priest (not me by the way) who administers Holy Communion almost every Sunday with the words of institution that Jesus used.  Accordingly, Jesus Himself is present at our church every Sunday.  Yes, I believe in the Real Presence in the Holy Communion, but Jesus’ presence is not dependent on my belief.

One might say that’s not *revival*.  Oh yes it is, sir.  Every Sunday we have a revival of Christ’s sacrifice for us, with Him present.

Now there has been and is a lot of argument just to what extent Holy Communion, or the Mass if you like, is a revival of Christ’s sacrifice.  Some say it is a re-sacrifice.  I respect those who say that but do not feel entirely comfortable with that formulation.  Christ was once sacrificed for us on the cross, a “full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice,” and there is no need for Him to be re-sacrificed.  But the Eucharist does make that sacrifice present for us; it re-presents it if you will.  It is at the very least a reenactment of that sacrifice that makes it and Christ Himself with it present for us.

Now I do not presume to know the details of how God brings that about.  Scripture is restrained about that, reserved as the Tractarians like to put it. So I prefer restraint and reserve also.  I like the thinking of Queen Elizabeth I on that:

'Twas God the Word that spake it,
He took the bread and brake it;
And what the Word did make it;
That I believe, and take it.

For those whom even that is going too far, I remind that Jesus promised, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:19)  And he did say, “This is my body” then command us to “Do this.”  I would think twice before trying to explain that away into a mere symbol.  I myself do not lean on my own understanding in this matter.  It is “too wonderful for me.”

But enough argumentation.  After my priest says the Words of Institution this Sunday, Christ is really present, and I believe it.  And that is transformative.

Just how it transforms me, I leave up to Him.  Sometimes, it’s that my prayers are then said more intensely and with more confidence.  Sometimes, it that I quietly worship with a focus on Him I can hardly bring about at other times.  Often, I experience that “peace that passes understanding.”

But it’s not about me or my experience or emotions.  Jesus is present in the Holy Communion!  With His help, I seek to get my worship in line with that reality.

And I get to be there for His presence every Sunday at my church.  I do not need to drive hours to a revival.  I just drive to my church for a revival of Christ’s Real Presence every Sunday.