My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we continue our Lenten journey, we have a brief diversion, but a beautiful diversion in the saint that we celebrate today named Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, one of the early bishops and doctors of the church, for he was born between 313/315 AD in or near Jerusalem, which was then part of the Roman Empire. But the precise date is unknown, but he was formed within the Christian community of the Holy Land. He became the Bishop of Jerusalem around 348AD and so he was only 35, 34 years old.
He lived during intense theological conflicts, especially the Arian controversy, the controversies which dealt with Christ's dual nature, natures human and divine. And this caused a lot of division in the early church, because a lot of the early church fathers did not want to collaborate with the proper authority that Christ left on earth to faithfully determine and interpret the deposit of faith that had been left in their protective hands. And so, as the Bishop of Jerusalem, we remember that the first bishop of Jerusalem was Saint James, one of the 12 apostles who had been beheaded. But one of his successors was this saint, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem.
And he suffered three exiles because of the disputes with Arius and those who sympathized with Arius. And, um, because of the disputes with his rival bishops, he was known for his catechetical lectures and which formed new Christians in the faith. He died on March 18th, 386 A.D., which we commemorate. That's why we commemorate his memorial on this day. Uh, and he died peacefully through natural causes in Jerusalem.
After years of ministry and suffering, my brothers and sisters, Saint Cyril teaches us that faith that conquers is formed, not assumed. From the first letter that we have in today's readings that are presented for his memorial, we hear from Saint John the Beloved, who speaks about faith as a victory. Cyril reminds us that faith must be taught, received, and lived. Lent is a time to return to the basics. Do I truly know what I believe? Like his catechumens, we are called to deeper formation, not superficial belief.
And that is why, my brothers and sisters, if you do have a doubt, if you are confused about something in the faith, don't let it just sit there on a shelf collecting dust, because that doubt will remain in your heart, gnawing away at your faith. Rather, seek an answer. Isn't that what Jesus promised us? Seek and you will find (Matthew 7:7). So my brothers and sisters, like his catechumens, we are called to something deeper, something more genuine.
When it comes to our faith, when we then arrive at the gospel that is given to us for today, again from the same author, the Gospel of John, in the 15th chapter we hear Jesus encourage us to remain in him. He says, remain in me (John 15:4), right. How important is it to continue our relationship with Jesus? To listen to what he says. To admire what he says. To smile with Jesus. To mourn with Jesus. To love those things that he loved. To detest those things that he detested.
What did Jesus detest? The false gods that often take God's place, his father's place and his place, and the Holy Spirit's place in our hearts. False gods like extreme pleasure of the world, the honors of the world, the power that so many seek in order to control others. To monopolize. To gain tyrannically over others. And the wealth. He detested the wealth of this world. Store up for yourselves rather treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20).
So if we love the things Jesus loved, what did he love? Principally, our Lord to do the will of the father. And we detest those things that he detested, then we will abide in him and him in us. Now, one of the greatest ways that Jesus abides in us, most tangibly, most truly is in the Eucharist, and Saint Cyril speaks to us a lot about the Eucharist, even at such an early date in the church. He speaks about it with striking clarity and realism, especially in his mystagogical catechesis given to the newly baptized during Easter. His goal is not speculation, but formation in faith and reverence.
These are the key elements of his teaching. What appears is not what is. Cyril insists that the senses can mislead us, and I quote, do not regard the bread and wine as simply that. For they are, according to the Lord's declaration, the body and blood of Christ. Saint Cyril teaches that after the consecration the reality has changed, even if appearances remain. This is what we call transubstantiation.
Another thing that he points out is that he urges us to not rely on the sight or the taste. And I quote, even though the senses suggest otherwise, let faith make you firm. For Cyril, the Eucharist is a mystery received in faith. And this connects directly with the first Epistle of John when we heard the victory is our faith. The Eucharist is where faith is exercised, most purely trusting Christ's word over our perception.
And then he teaches us to approach with reverence and awe, since the Eucharist truly unites us, he says, by partaking of the body and blood of Christ, you become one body and one blood with him. And approaching, do not come with your wrists extended, but make your left hand a throne for the right. As for a king, he emphasizes adoration, interior preparation and awareness. How beautiful. Right to enthrone the Lord on our hands with reverence.
Ought we to receive him, whether on the tongue or on the hand? We must remember that this is the Lord God of hosts, hidden beneath this tiny little piece of bread, our Lord God, who comes to us so lovingly and humbly to tenderly embrace us always. Through the intercession of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, may Almighty God bless you in your faith in the Eucharist.
In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Go in peace.
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