Eucharistic Kenosis

Eucharistic Kenosis

In Mt 17:2-3 we found Moses talking with Our Lord and God whose face shone like the sun. Historically, this was nothing new to Moses: "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." (Ex 33:11) What is puzzling is that Moses in both the Old and New Testaments was still alive and kicking after having seen God's face, for God clearly told Moses: "You cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." (Ex 33:20) Was God contradicting Himself then? Not at all!

Apparently, if God had not deliberately practiced His infinite humility and reduced His infinite mighty radiance to our bearable level, Moses would have been twice instantly wiped out and disappeared from the face of the earth. In other words, no one can literally live after seeing God's face as it is which radiates unceasingly His infinite divine might. Physically speaking, as we know, this untold power of God is infinitely mightier than all the atomic and nuclear bombs ever made put together. In fact, the same can be applied to the Sacred Host. If God hidden in the consecrated Bread and Wine had not humbly reduced His all-powerful radiance to our very finite level, no Mass could have continued after the Consecration. Neither could have any person been able to receive the Holy Communion, nor any tabernacle to hold the Sacred Hosts. No sacrilege could have been committed either. This then is God's infinite kenosis or self-emptying which we cannot take for granted. That may explain a bit why all the Holy Angels and Saints surrounding the altar are worshipping God in incredible awe. They could not believe what is happening right before their eyes.