Posted on 05/08/2011 3:20:44 PM PDT by NYer
A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for May 8, 2011, the Third Sunday of Easter | Carl E. Olson
Readings:
• Acts 2:14, 22-33
• Psa. 16:1-2,5,7-11
• 1 Pet. 1:17-21
• Lk. 24:13-35
I grew up attending a small Fundamentalist Bible chapel that believed the Lord’s Supper should be commemorated each week. Nearly every Sunday we took time to contemplate the death of Jesus Christ by quietly reflecting on the Cross and partaking of bread and grape juice.
It was not, of course, the Eucharist. But it was, in hindsight, an action that pointed me, however imperfectly, to the Eucharist and the Catholic Church. Today’s Gospel reading, one of my favorite passages from the Gospel of Luke, beautifully shows the relationship between the supernatural gift of faith and Holy Communion.
Luke, a masterful storyteller, incisively describes how the disciples had completely lost their bearings and sense of spiritual direction in the overwhelming aftermath of Jesus’ death: “They stopped, looking downcast” (Lk. 24:17). Approached by Jesus, they failed to recognize their Lord. Responding to His question about their conversation, the men explained their confusion: Jesus was “a prophet mighty in deed and word” and yet he had not fulfilled their hope for redemption (v. 21). In addition to this disappointment there was the added mystery of the empty tomb, although they apparently hadn’t reached a conclusion about what it might actually mean.
Jesus chided them and took them to the Scriptures, “beginning with Moses and with all the prophets”(v. 27), to show them the true nature of “the Christ.” There are several passages that Jesus likely showed them, including Deuteronomy 18:15, which promised “a prophet” like Moses, Psalm 2:7, a Messianic psalm, and Isaiah 53, which describes the Suffering Servant, as well as others. The disciples had to be shown that salvation and glory wouldn’t come through political might or social upheaval, but through humiliation, suffering, and apparent defeat.
Thus, on the road to Emmaus, there was a re-learning on the part of the disciples, who heard a deeper explanation of the Scriptures than they had heard many times before. This was necessary in order for them to really grasp the significance of the Cross and its life-giving, soul-transforming meaning. This education came from the very One who sent the prophets and gave them words; who better than the Word Incarnate to illuminate the meaning of the sacred text? The narrative follows a distinct pattern of questioning, dialogue, and exposition of Scripture, leading to a sacrament, which is a pattern Luke uses again in the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8).
Some commentators have suggested that the disciples finally recognized Jesus simply because of a familiar gesture on his part. But this understates how Luke purposefully uses the same description of Jesus’ actions—“he took bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them”—as he does in his account of the Last Supper (Lk 22:19-20). Yes, the disciples certainly recognized that gesture, but the recognition was a gift of grace, and it was intimately linked with the reality of the Eucharist. Which is why they later told the others how Christ “was made known to them in the breaking of bread.”
The story of the encounter on the road to Emmaus includes all of the essential elements of the Liturgy: Scripture, prayer, blessing, and the breaking of bread. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the “Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord's body and blood.” These elements, it emphasizes, “constitute one single act of worship” (CCC 1408).
Every person hungers for this act of worship, for we were made to worship God in that way. God, in his goodness, responds to that hunger. In the midst of the disciples’ confusion and blindness, Jesus sought them out, offered himself to them, and opened their eyes. He did it for me, many years ago. He wishes to meet all of us on our road to Emmaus.
Catholic doctrine is biblical doctrine. Paul warned us about those introducing false teachings, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Tim. 4:3–4).
The protestant “reformation” is simply not Biblical:
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1Cor 1:10-17
You could easily read the above as “One of you says, "I follow Luther"; another, "I follow Calvin"; another, "I follow Wesley"; still another, "I follow Christ."
Christians cannot be “perfectly united in mind and thought” when they have different beliefs on, say, the necessity of water baptism, while others believe “This is my Body” means “This is a cookie”
We know from Scripture that the basic premise of “Protestantism” cannot be true:
“And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Mat 6:18
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:12-13
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1Tim 3:15
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Mat 28:18-20
Fortunately, we have Christ’s promise that heresies will never prevail against the Church. They will arise, endure sometimes for centuries, like Protestantism, but we can be confident in Christ’s promise that the Church will always teach the Truth.
Jesus, Paul and 2,000 years of Christian history beg to differ with you. I hope you too someday will meet the real Jesus on the road to Emmaus and come to know the real Jesus in the breaking of bread. I will pray for you.
And what exactly did you learn about Catholicism and where did you learn it? Where did you study the Catechism and the doctrines of the Catholic Church and who was your teacher?
"There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to be the Catholic Church." - Bishop Fulton Sheen
Give me book chapter and verse of where Mary ascended in to heaven....of where she was sinless....of where she never had sex......Catholic doctrine is far far far from scripture and it always trumps the word of God.
Paul also tells us Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.
What is not to understand about that? Explain His presence in His own body when the Lord said that!”
I love our Lord’s words when He said: “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
my friend, i showed you from scripture where Jesus said the Eucharist is His Body. If you don’t believe Jesus in that instance, you probably wouldn’t believe Him if said said He would build His Church and the gates of hell won’t prevail against it, would you?
The Word (Jesus) said it specifically — “this is my body”
“This is my blood”
I believe it.
I am not Catholic.
We believers tend to paint with a broad brush all the varying denominational beliefs in these religion forums.
(I'm trying not to.) Lutheran here FYI.
Thanks!
I believe it too and I’m Anglican.
And what exactly did you learn about Catholicism and where did you learn it?
I was raised in the Catholic church. I picked up the bible in my late teens and was shocked at the blatant contradictions. The teachings on Mary, the priesthood, even who Jesus is...all very different from what the bible says. You don’t have to like it, but at least be honest that there is nothing in the bible about lent, Mary ascending in to heaven, Jesus falling three times on the way to the cross. I am just pointing out that its not in there.
As for the Lords supper, its a metaphor people...
All Christians have believed this for 2,000 years, including St Ignatius who was taught the faith by St John, the author of John 6!! May God bless you both.
“it is a metaphor people” funny how for the first 1,500 years of Christianity, no one believed it was a metaphor. I would think St John understood whether it was a metaphor or not, do you agree? St John taught St Ignatius who was martyred in Rome for his faith in Jesus. St Ignatius taught the Real Presence. Everywhere the Apostles spread the Faith, they believed in the Real Presence. But you know it is a metaphor, makes sense to me!!
This is a non sequitur
First, answer a few questions:
1. Where did Jesus give instructions that the Christian faith should be based exclusively on a book?
2. Other than the specific command to John to write the Revelation, where did Jesus tell His apostles to write anything down and compile it into an authoritative book?
3. Where in the New Testament do the apostles tell future generations that the Christian faith will be based solely on a book?
4. Where did the table of contents of the Bible come from?
5. What do you think happened to all the “stuff” in John 21:25? “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Your beliefs about Christianity are not supported by Scripture.
May we not forget what the apostles Paul & Peter wrote:
“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4)
“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the coner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereto also they were appointed.” (1 Peter 2:7-8)
There are no contradictions between Catholicism and the Bible. You are using YOPIOS>Your Own Private Interpretation Of Scripture.
You need to read the book about the conversion of Scott and Kimberly Hahn (BTW, Kimberly had a hang up with Mary that was reconciled.) “Rome Sweet Home.”
BTW, if you were a baptized Catholic when you were a baby, you are still a baptized Catholic, whether it is 10, 20, or 70 years later.
Once a Catholic always a Catholic.
We welcome you back at any time. Do not believe the pamplets that people have given you or that Catholic haters have preached. They don’t always tell the truth.
Christ, the founder of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church is the truth. Think about it.
I hear that all of the time, but when I ask any former or failed Catholic a couple of very basic questions the invariably fail to answer correctly. Without checking any online sources I'll bet you can't name the seven sacraments or the six tenants of the Church. Ignorance is not an excuse to misrepresent the actual teachings of the Church.
he was never a Catholic, if he was he would know Mary was “assumed” into heaven, Jesus “ascended” into heaven. even after reading this post, he still won’t understand the difference.
see my post #38 for proof of your suspicion.
Mine’s too, and today, a little girl made her first holy communion. Had a mountain top experence also.
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