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 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.
So now instead of different interpretations, we have different versions of the Bible. This is becoming interesting. Tell that to Jim Jones, Billy Graham;, David Koresh, Joel Osteen, and TD Jakes and mainline Protestant denominations that ordain married gay and lesbian pastors.
If “Protestants” are tied to the likes of Jones (a Communist), Billy Graham (an honorable man as is his son Franklin Graham), Koresh (a sociopath), Osteen (whom I despise) then (based on this argument) surely this means Catholics are bound in fellowship with the “bad popes” and the priests who molested little boys.
I don’t give a rat’s butt worth of credit concerning the behavior of false teachers and liars.
My sole focus of my salvation is my Savior Jesus. If Catholics are truly Christians and followers of The Lord then I would expect them abstain from smearing those who don’t worship in their way and focus on The Christ.
However, the *mom* part ought to be a dead giveaway.
...it’s a mystery.
Again
"This is My Body."
"Amen."
That's it.
The default answer for everything.....
It’s beyond hypocritical that Catholics demand that we own everyone they label as non-Catholic, and yet distance themselves from anyone who class themselves Catholic, even if endorsed by their very own church, so fast that your head will spin.
I assume you're not asking why Catholics sin but rather why Catholic doctrines violate your understanding of the Bible. I really don't see it. My understanding of Sacred Scripture confirms my decision to convert in the first place.
I believe the Catholic Church was established by Our Lord as the custodian of Sacred Scripture and the ordinary means of salvation for mankind. I believe that the Church has grown from the mustard seed planted by Our Lord and His Apostles and developed her teaching as the Holy Ghost has guided and directed her through the centuries.
Consider the source......
Comments like that give unnecessary insight into the thought processes that go on in some minds.
I think I need some brain bleach after reading stuff like that.
Well, I’d accept the argument if the source of all of the “host” was from a young boy’s lunch basket initially containing five loaves and two fish.
It seems to me too many on all sides of the argument fail to focus on The One.
It’s not just Catholics. My wife was once a fan of “Osteen.” She woke up when I pointed out he had a “globe” made from the “O” in his name as his background (a lot like Oprah?). She enjoyed his “feel good” message which lacked Biblical foundation. Once I pointed out the obvious flaws she looked deeper and stopped watching him. Victoria Osteen’s antics helped speed the process.
Well, from a non-Catholic position, it seems to me that God did not need anyone to preserve His word for Him.
He was more than capable of using any means He chose, as the Dead Sea Scrolls attest to.
Being the Holy Spirit inspired, God breathed word of God, they stand by themselves because of their inherent nature.
From my point of view, God does not need our help for anything, but grants us the privilege of doing so so that later He can reward us for doing what He is working in us.
It’s grace beginning to end and we’re the only benefactors.
Oops, beneficiary.
I tend to agree with you. The Health and Wealthers aren't your responsibility, neither are pentecostals et al. But there's so many different types of Protestant that figuring out the specifics of an individual's doctrine is like nailing jello to a wall. I don't want Nancy Pelosi OR Cardinal Dolan blamed on my beliefs anymore than you'd like to be associated with Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland (at least I assume you don't).
Now THAT was a well reasoned and possibly inspired comment!
Thank you, Legatus!
Well right, as you write later God doesn't need us for anything.
Yes it's all grace, I merit hell.
We say "Amen."
"Since He’s in us already through faith, then what’s the point of ingesting Him?
First, because Jesus said to receive Him n this way (John 6). Repeatedly, insistently, in very strong terms. This is not reliance on your flesh, which avails nothing. It's reliance on His: His Flesh and Blood, living and true, resurrected and glorified, His incarnate Person, which is more precious than any created thing in the Universe.
Second, you're an incarnate person, a body/soul person. Christ is incarnate as well. I think he wants you to revel in all aspects of Him, including his incarnate (not just "spiritual") presence in you.
You told your husband you loved him on your wedding day. I'm sure it was a fine, spiritual thing. Would you look askance at him if he said he wanted in an embodied way to be you-in-him and him-in-you?
"Well, I’d accept the argument if the source of all of the “host” was from a young boy’s lunch basket initially containing five loaves and two fish."
Huh? What?
Jesus did gave us the Eucharist Himself at the Last Supper, with unleavened wheat bread and a cup of red grape wine. That's enough for Him, but not for you?
The wafer is something “man made.” Some of the priests who pray over it are honorable men. Others are profane.
No mere human person could do that by his own power or piety.
Chapter and verse for your product descriptions, please.
It seems like Roman Catholics can say anything and believe it is true, even if nothing in Scripture supports their conjecture!
The "eucharist" is a Roman Catholic cultic activity that does not elevate Christ, but instead leaves Him on the cross as a defeated weakling or positions Him as a baby with a halo-adorned Woman (whom they claim is the "Mother of God"). That same cult teaches that it is essential for Salvation.
Scripture says otherwise...
The grace of God hath power to bring salvation to all men, and if a man is unsaved it is because he wants to work it out; he wants to receive salvation in some other way than God’s way; but we are told that “he that climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. -DL Moody
To attempt to pay for salvation with church membership, prayers, or good deeds is an insult to Christ, who paid the full price–and is a rejection of the gift of God’s grace. ~ Dave Hunt, Radio Commentator & Author
We could not take one step in the pursuit of holiness if God in His grace had not first delivered us from the dominion of sin and brought us into union with His risen Son. Salvation is by grace and sanctification is by grace.~ Jerry Bridges, Author
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. ~ Ephesians 1:12-14
I can't imagine why you would think Catholics made this up.
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