The Resurrection & The Eucharist

http://www.frksj.org/homily_ressurection_and_the_eucharist.htm ^

[Steelfish]

The Resurrection & The Eucharist by Fr. Rodney Kissinger S.J. (Former Missouri Synod Lutheran) http://www.frksj.org/homily_ressurection_and_the_eucharist.htm There is an important connection between the Resurrection and the Eucharist. The Eucharist IS the Risen Jesus.

Therefore, the Eucharist makes the Resurrection present and active in our lives and enables us to experience the joy and the power of the Resurrection.

The Resurrection is the reason for the observance of Sunday instead of the Sabbath. According to the Gospel it was early in the morning on the first day of the week that the Risen Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.

It was also on the evening of that first day of the week that the Risen Jesus appeared to the Apostles when Thomas was not present. Then a week later, on the first day of the week, he appeared again when Thomas was present.

So the Apostles began to celebrate the first day of the week, Sunday, as the beginning of the re-creation of the world just as they had celebrated the Sabbath as the end of the creation of the world. Originally the Liturgical Year was simply fifty-two Sundays, fifty-two celebrations of the Eucharist, fifty-two celebrations of the Resurrection. Today the Eucharist is still the principal way of celebrating the Resurrection and proclaiming the Mystery of Faith: “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”

As we have seen the joy and the power of the Resurrection is not found in the empty tomb or in the witness of some one else it is found only in a personal encounter with the Risen Jesus. The Eucharist, the Risen Jesus, gives us an opportunity for this personal encounter. Will all who receive the Eucharist have a personal encounter with the Risen Jesus? Yes they will. Unfortunately, not all will recognize the Risen Jesus. 

Mary Magdalene had a personal encounter with the Risen Jesus but did not recognize him. She thought it was the gardener. It was not until she recognized Jesus that she experienced the joy and the power of the Resurrection. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had a personal encounter with the Risen Jesus and thought that it was a stranger. It was not until they recognized him in the “breaking of the bread” that they experienced the joy and the power of the Resurrection.

The Eucharist is also a pledge of our own resurrection. “I am the living bread come down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Eucharist tells us that in death life is changed not ended. It is not so much life after death but life through death. Death is the door to life. This takes away the fear of death and gives us consolation at the death of a loved one.

The Eucharist also continues the two fold effect of the Resurrection which is to confirm the faith of the Apostles and to create the Christian Community. These are two sides of the same coin. To believe is to belong. Community was an integral part of the life of the first Christians. They were of one mind and one heart. When the Apostles asked the Lord to teach them how to pray, he taught them the “OUR Father.” In the Creed we say, “WE believe.” It is a personal commitment made in the community of believers.

The Eucharist also confirms the faith of the recipient and is the principle of unity and community. Without the Christian Community we lose our roots and our identity and our ability to survive in our culture which is diametrically opposed to Christ.

Through the Eucharist the Risen Jesus continues his two fold mission of proclaiming the Good News and healing the sick. Every celebration of the Eucharist proclaims the Good News and heals the sick. The Liturgy of the Word proclaims the Good News and the Liturgy of the Eucharist heals the sick. If people were healed simply by touching the hem of His garment how much more healing must come from receiving His Body and Blood?

How ridiculous it is then when people ask, “Do I have an obligation to go to Mass on Sunday?” If obligation is going to determine whether or not you go to Mass forget the obligation. You have a greater problem than that. Your problem is faith, you don’t believe. You don’t believe that the Eucharist IS the Risen Christ.

You just don’t realize the connection between the Resurrection and the Eucharist.

In just a few moments we will receive the Eucharist and once again have an opportunity for a personal encounter with the Risen Jesus.

Let us ask for the faith to recognize him in the “breaking of the bread” so that we are able to say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God,” and in so doing experience the joy and the power of the Resurrection.

[ealgeone]

My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you; and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am your own, keep me, guard me, as your property and possession. Amen.

Change My Queen and my mother to Satan.

Now do you understand the impact of a "prayer" devotion to Mary??

Catholics think it's ok because Mary's name is in this "devotion".

However, swap out her name for any other name and catholics would be howling heresy. Imagine the outcry if Luther's name was in this "devotion".

[verga]

Logical fallacy of Reductio ad absurdum. Thank you the Mea Scripturaista have not posted one of these in a while. I am glad to see that you all can still nail it so well.

[BlueDragon]

Are tax collectors "its"?

...in 'merica they could be called irs perhaps. but I digress

I am convinced that taking another Mea Scripturaist to task for referring to a Catholic as "it", twice, once after being corrected by that Catholic would be a darn good way to demonstrate that.

Mea Scripturaist? Labeling these same people which you now seem to be demanding must bow and curtsey before Your Rudeness?

Sorry, but that doesn't work.

Try the "loudly praying on street corners" thingy again. Someone may have missed catching sight of how pious you are...

What any of that could have to do with darning socks and what not, I don't...hey wait --I've got it!

Holey Socks! (ker-pow)

[Religion Moderator]

Stop posting disgusting ad hominem comments about individual posters.

Doing it behind the back (not using the name in the “to” field) of the target of the ad hominem makes it even worse.

Familiarize yourself with the guidelines of the Religion Forum at my profile page by clicking on my name at the bottom of this post.

Discuss the issues all you want, do not attack the character of other posters.

[ealgeone]

Logical fallacy of Reductio ad absurdum.

I think it's more of a lack of comprehension due to years and years of indoctrination.

Again, just change the name and insert _____ and you should get the meaning.

[Legatus]

Change My Queen and my mother to Satan.

Well that's just silly, try this though:
[insert name of spouse here], I give myself entirely to you; and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, [insert name of spouse here], as I am your own, keep me, guard me, as your property and possession. Amen.

In fact, I should call my wife right now... brb.

[Elsie]

In other words, all devotion to Mary is a desire for Christ.

Why not cut out the middle 'man'?

[verga]

Try the "loudly praying on street corners" thingy again.

Never did that. I am too humble and shy for that.

[ealgeone]

Well that's just silly, try this though: [insert name of spouse here], I give myself entirely to you; and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, [insert name of spouse here], as I am your own, keep me, guard me, as your property and possession. Amen.

In fact, I should call my wife right now... brb.

Catholics can deny it all they want. When they say this prayer to Mary, they are giving ALL of themselves to her.

Contrast with:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and body.

You can't give yourself to two people in the context of this prayer.

[sitetest]

Me, too. She’s across the room. We work together. ;-)

[Elsie]

“if he won’t listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector.”

You just LOVE your little game; don't you!!

STA apparently CHOOSES to give a false imprssion every time he writes:

 

"If he will not listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector." --Jesus

 

 

---

Matthew 18:15-17 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) 

¹⁵ But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.

¹⁶ And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.

¹⁷ And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.

[FourtySeven]

Catholics think it's ok because Mary's name is in this "devotion".

Excise me for saying so but this is just wrong. We don't beleive all "devotions" are good, just because they are devotions. Obviously, if one "devotes" oneself to the love of money, or to Satan (as you pointed out), that's wrong, it's idolatry. Idolatry is putting anything or any-one over God, before Him.

This is not what a devotion to Mary (or any saint) is though; such devotions have at their root, as I pointed out, a desire for Christ to see Christ face to face. A love of Christ actually OVER the Saint in question.

Let me use an example from the earth we can more easily identify and correspond with: we all like and admire Mrs. Don-o for her calm demeanor and knowledge of Catholicism/Christianity she shares. Those of us who wish to deepen our faith, to grow in it as Catholics, as Christians, may at some point to to her, turn to HER, for advice, friendship (if we know her offline), even PRAYER. Why? Is she an "idol" to us? Does she "replace God" in our minds?

No! Of COURSE not! She is someone who (at least some of us) believe can help us grow closer to Christ, to help us know Him better and even someone to pray for us when we ask for it. If any of us would be so blessed to knkw her in person, we may even find ourselves having and expressing a special "devotion" to her, devoted to what she has to say and wishing to spend time with her (as a friend!). It's all very human. All of what I've said is a simple human example of "devotion", the kind Catholics refer to when speaking of "devotion". Indeed, we can all (hopefully) point to people in our offline lives who we are especially "devoted" to be it our parents or spouse or a close friend. It's not "idolatry", it's human devotion to another who one has found particularly useful in coming to know Christ better, Who is our ULTIMATE desire!

Now Mrs. Don-o, despite all she has to offer is still an imperfect human wallowing in sin like the rest of us (with all due respect to her of course). Just like any friend or spouse or parent no matter how holy on Earth. (I certainly identify with St. Paul when he said "I am the chief sinner", that is certainly me now). Is this our only recourse though, in our imperfect humanity? Thankfully NO!

The Church, as the Mystical Body of Christ links not only is here on Earth together, but also those in Heaven too with us here! We are all part of one Body, thus, just as the above example with Mrs. Don-O isn't "idolatry", so it also isn't with the saints in Heaven! Even MORE so with them because they are sin FREE! How much greater a friend, a companion on our journey TO CHRIST, can THEY be, indeed they ARE. By the same reasoning above.

No person, except the insane, believes devotion to Satan leads to Christ. But a human person can see that merely devoting oneself to another who has already achieved the goal after running the race and wining it already (ie the Saints) isn't idolatry at all.

It's the perfectly human way to obtain the aid we all need to meet Him, our Beloved, face to face. And that's all.

[boatbums]

Here’s a thought...why don’t you open your OWN thread to discuss your religion instead of hijacking this one?

[Springfield Reformer]

Not to pick at nits, and not entering into the actual meat of your discussion here, but Reductio ad absurdum is actually a valid form of argument:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_absurdum

The idea is that by switching contexts one can show, for example a double standard. Imagine, for example, the press playing softball with a Republican Secretary of State wiping their outside-the-system server of all email records. It wouldn’t happen. The absurdity demonstrates the bias of the media. So it is not a fallacy per se. Just sayin ..

Peace,

SR

[ealgeone]

>Catholics think it's ok because Mary's name is in this "devotion".<

Excise me for saying so but this is just wrong. We don't beleive all "devotions" are good, just because they are devotions. Obviously, if one "devotes" oneself to the love of money, or to Satan (as you pointed out), that's wrong, it's idolatry. Idolatry is putting anything or any-one over God, before Him.

So how is pledging one's entire self to Mary, giving yourself entirely to you.....without reserve any different than giving yourself entirely to Satan??

The catholic is considering themselves to be her property and possession. How is this any different than if you pledged your life to Satan and asked him to keep you as his possession??

the "devotion" in question:

>My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you; and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am your own, keep me, guard me, as your property and possession. Amen.<

This is not what a devotion to Mary (or any saint) is though; such devotions have at their root, as I pointed out, a desire for Christ to see Christ face to face. A love of Christ actually OVER the Saint in question.

I understand the difficulty catholics will have with this. You've been brought up since kids(?) being taught this is right. And now you are being asked to evaluate the real meaning of "devotion" to Mary when our real devotion should be to Christ and Christ alone.

Paul considered himself to be "in Christ". He never once hinted at being "in mary" or being devoted to her. None of the Apostles did.

[boatbums]

Did Athanasius defend his Christology from Scripture alone?

Pretty much, yeah. It doesn't look like the churches had come to a conclusive dogma about the Deity of Jesus which was why Arius had a sizable number of defenders.

I don't believe Almighty God would have left His elect in the dark about this important truth which was why He included so many references in Scripture to guide those like Athanasius. He had the better Scriptural argument than Arius which is why Christians believe that Jesus is God with us, God incarnate. There IS only one God and if Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God - as Scripture attests - then the Triune nature of God is the only truth.

[Iscool]

I've go a pretty good hunch that these will be ignored, minimized, and explained away by many; but there are, perhaps, lurkers, who can read Scripture with unclouded eyes and get the gist of it: for them I write.

That's a pretty wild statement...We have never ignored those scriptures or any others...And they have never been explained away...They have been cross-referenced with other scriptures to the full meaning comes to light...Which is never in favor of the catholic religion...

That's the Catholic tactic...Read little parts of verses ignoring the whole to get the gist of what the Catholic religion is trying to deceive you with...

Hopefully the lurkers will read the entire verse and the surrounding context and see that these scriptures have nothing to do with the Catholic religion...

[Legatus]

I understand the difficulty catholics will have with this. You've been brought up since kids(?) being taught this is right. And now you are being asked to evaluate the real meaning of "devotion" to Mary when our real devotion should be to Christ and Christ alone.

No that isn't patronizing at ALL...

Have you never expressed your love for someone in a way that an onlooker might see as over the top or excessive? I remember dropping to my knees and saying "I can't live without you" to my wife. That might have been a little much but it's certainly the way I felt, and still feel 21 years later. Devotions aren't theology, they're love letters.

[verga]

Here’s a thought...why don’t you open your OWN thread to discuss your religion instead of hijacking this one?

Pssssst this was a Catholic thread started by a Catholic, about Catholic teaching.

Here’s a thought...why don’t you open your OWN thread to discuss your religion instead of hijacking this one?

[Elsie]

Excise me for saying so but this is just wrong.

You're just a cut up...