Absent, yet Present...Present, yet Absent

For years I have wondered: after the words of consecration in the Eucharist, we know that Jesus is actually, physically present under the appearance of bread and wind but our proclamation of faith does not state this, but seems to contradict it: "We proclaim your death and profess your resurrection, O Lord, until you come again." We affirm that he came in the past, that he will come in the future, but we overtly do NOT affirm his presence now. By implication, we seem to affirm his absence. If I told you my friend came to see me yesterday and will come tomorrow, wouldn't you assume that he is not with me at the moment? Von Balthasar's magisterial "On Prayer" instructs me on the eschatological tension: Our Lord is present as absent. He is here, even as he is not yet here. He is to come, but is already here, really, proleptically or in promise. We rest contentedly in his presence, even as we long for him that much more. He is absent because of our sin; he is absent because our world is plagued with suffering, evil, death, guilt and dread. He is really present, but in the most unobtrusive, anonymous, hidden manner: as a thin, white, tasteless, quiet wafer; as the slightest sip. He is present discretely, enticingly, as he engages us, seduces us, arouses us, inspires us. He is present as absent; and absent as present. Welcome, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!