“Timeo Iesum transeuntem. I fear that Jesus will pass by me.” – St. Augustine, Sermon 88
These famous words of the saint of Hippo are usually interpreted as the fear of not recognizing Jesus as he passes by due to our indifference.
This fear is rather important to me in these times. In the Archdiocese of Seattle, we recently concluded our Year of the Eucharist. After a full year of reflection and contemplation on the Eucharist, it worries me that the lack of faith in the real presence of the Lord that prevails in our country might overtake the faith of many Catholics, preventing them from acknowledging Jesus even as he is present right before them at Mass — a strong possibility that neither priests nor catechists should overlook.
At the same time, as we leave behind the pandemic and the quarantine imposed on us for so many months, it worries me that the lengthy isolation might have caused in many a certain degree of indifference to others. The seclusion, the lack of social activity, the use of masks and needing to keep our distance has made all of us, to a greater or lesser extent, fear each other. When someone approaches us on the street, we distance ourselves, crossing to the other sidewalk if possible, to get far from our brother. When someone coughs, many stare in fear and rejection, dreading an infection. If we have not been careful, this social distancing might have become a human distancing and a spiritual distancing that makes us no longer care about others, about their well-being and their needs.
I fear that Jesus will pass by me unnoticed — that I won’t notice him in the one who extends his hand seeking mine, in the one who gets close to my ear seeking my listening, in the one who approaches my heart seeking my understanding, in the one who approaches me seeking consolation. I dread that Jesus passes by while I, instinctively and without even thinking, withdraw from him.
As we consider our pastoral planning in the Archdiocese of Seattle and its first step defined, we see that it focuses on encountering Jesus Christ and one another. To achieve this, we must reaffirm our faith in the Eucharist and receive Communion convinced that Christ is present. We must learn as well once again to discover his presence in our brothers and sisters, keeping always in mind that “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). To do so, we will need to learn, little by little, to leave behind those fears we have acquired, to feel close to each other once more, to get interested in each other, to see Christ, alive and present, in all others. We need to leave behind the fear to find, to touch, to embrace each other.
It is Christ passing by. Let us walk toward him.
Be passionate about our faith!
Northwest Catholic — July/August 2021