The Treasure of Christ’s Real Presence – Br. Curtis Almquist
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Br. Curtis Almquist
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind…” (Matthew 13:44-48).
In the calendar of the Church, we remember today Edward Bouverie Pusey, born near Oxford, England, in 1800, where he was educated and subsequently became Regius Professor of Hebrew and Canon of Christ Church Cathedral. Beginning in 1833, he would become the acknowledged leader of the Oxford Movement, the Anglo-Catholic renewal of the Church of England. Pusey was a writer of tracts; however, he was a most powerful communicator as a preacher: catholic in content and evangelical in zeal for the conversion of souls.
And there was trouble. In 1843, Pusey preached a sermon at Christ Church Cathedral on the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Of course, we here, today, would believe in Christ’s real presence in the Sacrament, and without a question; however, in Pusey’s day, this was too close to the fire of the Reformation. This was too Roman Catholic–sounding. Pusey was condemned by the Church of England authorities and suspended from preaching for two years. Meanwhile, minds and hearts were opened to what he had preached. The immediate effect of his suspension was the sale of 18,000 copies of his condemned sermon. Pusey would also write and preach about the revival of private sacramental confession, and he became a much-sought-after confessor.
Most significant to us Brothers is the introduction Edward Bouverie Pusey made to the principal founder of our community, Richard Meux Benson, who was Pusey’s devotee. Father Pusey introduced Father Benson to Father Charles Grafton who, with Benson and Father Simeon Wilberforce O’Neill, became the founders of our Society of Saint John the Evangelist in 1866.
In our Gospel lesson appointed for today, Jesus speaks of treasure to be found in the earth and sea. For Edward Bouverie Pusey and the founders of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, the Sacraments were the ancient treasures of the Church to behold, celebrate, and revere the power of God which they bequeath. And for us here, as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist in remembrance of Christ, we faithfully presume Christ’s real presence, power, and provision in ways beyond which we could ask or imagine.
Blessed Edward Bouverie Pusey, whom we remember today.