Posted on 04/04/2015 1:59:27 PM PDT by 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 dont believe. You dont believe that the Eucharist IS the Risen Christ.
You just dont 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.
Amen.....
To the point and important. Your posts and others’ are speaking to and for me.
Yet they put their full faith and trust in some man made "tradition". It ends up nothing but a cult.
I pray that Catholics come to realize that truth. It's only the Holy Spirit who can open their eyes. We can only present the truths from scripture.
Please show the scripture for that.
I think what was meant (not mind reading here), is that if you reject salvation through Christ, and by default you're rejecting God and the Holy Spirit, then there's nothing that can save you. That cannot be forgiven.
I would think all Christians would agree with that.
That “in love” sentiment really needs definition doesn’t it? Speaking the truth from scripture is love. Christ suffered and died because of God’s love.
Amen
I've wondered about this also. This is what I found at catholic answers.com. Bolded words are my additions.
What is Tradition?
In this discussion it is important to keep in mind what the Catholic Church means by tradition. The term does not refer to legends or mythological accounts, nor does it encompass transitory customs or practices which may change, as circumstances warrant, such as styles of priestly dress, particular forms of devotion to saints, or even liturgical rubrics. Sacred or apostolic tradition consists of the teachings that the apostles passed on orally through their preaching. These teachings largely (perhaps entirely) overlap with those contained in Scripture, but the mode of their transmission is different.
No one denies there was preaching/teaching we don't have record of. We have the written record that teaches us how to be saved and to live as Christ.
Before the NT, Paul, Phillip and the rest were able to use the OT to lead people to Christ. Now we have the NT we use, along with the OT to lead people to Christ.
But what was it they passed on that we don't have in the Word? That's the question we've all been wanting an answer for!
They have been handed down and entrusted to the Churchs. It is necessary that Christians believe in and follow this tradition as well as the Bible (Luke 10:16). What is this tradition?? They never answer that question.
The truth of the faith has been given primarily to the leaders of the Church (Eph. 3:5 "which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has not been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit". this is a bit out of context, surprised I know, for in the next verse clarity is given...." to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel), who, with Christ, form the foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:20). The Church (comments mine: ekklesia...that is all believers) has been guided by the Holy Spirit (who is given to all believers), who protects this teaching from corruption (John 14:25-26, 16:13).
I would add John 17:19-21 to this discussion.
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
Luke 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth (blasphēmēsanti) against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
Greek - blasphēmēsanti - I speak evil against, blaspheme, use abusive or scurrilous language about
That's a specific action, not just "rejecting salvation". The comment that was made which was, "And the ultimate sin against the Holy Spirit is the final rejection of mercy and forgiveness" is not based on scripture and is therefore misleading.
That returns them to "Sola Scripura" and I can assure you that Catholics would reject that statement out of hand.
Here.
A thread by Msgr Pope about intellectual pride and appealing to the towering theological giants of Catholicism.
A Meditation on the Sins of the Intellect
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3277435/posts
This was manifested most visibly following the Lambeth conference of 1929. The Anglican Church (in paragraphs 15 and 16) permitted the use of artificial birth control.
They attempted to set themselves up as the "authors of life."
They decided that they knew best when life should occur and this led them to be able to decide when life should end.
We no longer have a culture of life but one of death.
So we can throw the 10 commandments out with the rest of the books you folks threw out of the Bible?
Actually he is ignoring a moronic false dichotomy.
You address some critical points. Before the New Covenant we had types and shadows. Then Christ fulfilled those types and shadows. Why Christians want to use more types and shadows for the Real Christ, I don’t know.
Baptism represents something real. The real death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s Supper represents His sacrifice for us. “Do this in remembrance.”
So we can throw the 10 commandments out with the rest of the books you folks threw out of the Bible?
Recommend you read Galatians and Romans on this. It will clear up the issue for you.
1300-50; Middle English bible, bibel < Old French bible < Medieval Latin biblia (feminine singular) < Greek, in tà biblía tà hagía (Septuagint) the holy books; biblíon, byblíon papyrus roll, strip of papyrus, equivalent to býbl(os) papyrus (after Býblos, a Phoenician port where papyrus was prepared and exported) + -ion noun suffix
Oooo look the Septuagint is in there.
OOO look it began from a Phoenician port, not books.WOW the prots really screw it up don't they!
If you ask a Jew, they will tell you that we were never under it..that we were under the Noahic law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah), that the 10 commandments were SPECIFIC to Israel ..
If one choses to be judged by the 10 commandments that is EXACTLY how his final judgement will go..and that is not a good thing ... James 2: 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has he has become guilty of all.
What does the New Covenant mean to Catholics ?? Is it the OT law with a twist..that is not "good news"
Heaven will be as full of sinners as hell will be, the difference will be that those in heaven have a Savior, He that Christ set free is free indeed .. Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
The law has never saved anyone..do you understand the purpose of the law?
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