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.
I think I enticed him into this one.
Besides; Mormonism is REALLY full of error compared to Catholism!
At least Catholics have a good idea of the concept of the biblical GOD.
Tell your buds to make them CAUCUS threads; and you guys can then highfive each other for what; about 20-25 replies?
Thank you for missing the point.
Actually I think you’re funnier than me. :)
And yet continuing the demonstrably false teaching of Catholicism by comparing it to Scripture is not doing their credibility any good either.
But it's good if you (all) partially dedicate yourselves to and partially serve Mary...And you are partially 'divinizing' Mary??? I don't think that's what God had in mind...
Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isa 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
1Co_4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Well, consider this: When Christ was crucified, where was the Church? For the most part, the "Church" -- all of Jesus' select men, His right-hand men ---- had high-tailed it and headed for the tall grass. Everyone had betrayed, denied, or abandoned Jesus in His hour of need.
Th tiny remnant--- the faithful Church --- consisted of those at the foot of the Cross.
And how is this moment of attachment and fidelity pictured in the Gospel of John?
(John 19:26-28) When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household. |
In that moment, Jesus gave His mother a son; and gave His Church a mother.
This is reiterated, in a sense, at Pentecost, when the Eleven and Mary are in the Upper Room and receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had overshadowed Mary thirty-three years before, and empowered her to bring Christ "the Word made Flesh" into the world; that same Holy Spirit was now overshadowing not just Mary, but this little Church with Mary in their midst --- empowering them to carry forth Christ into the whole world --- through the power of that same Spirit. Annunciation multiplied!
The mothering relationship is reiterated very strongly in Revelation 12, when the Lady of the Sign, the Great Sign in the Heavens, is revealed to be none other than the Mother of the Savior (v.5) and the Mother of the Church (v.17):
"Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus."
So there's all the faithful described as being "the rest of her (Mary's) offspring: those who keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus." She, Mary, the Lady of the Sign, is the very image of the faithful Church: Lady Ecclesia.
As early as the end of the first century (before the death of St.John) and into the first half of the second century, Mary is depicted in frescos in the Roman catacombs both with and without her divine Son. Mary is depicted as a model of virginity with her Son; at the Annunciation; at the adoration of the Magi; and as the orans, the "praying one," the woman of prayer.
A very significant fresco in the catacombs of St. Agnes depicts Mary situated between St. Peter and St. Paul with her arms outstretched to both. This fresco reflects, in the language of Christian frescoes, the earliest symbol of Mary as "Mother of the Church." Whenever St. Peter and St. Paul are shown together, it is symbolic of the one Church of Christ, a Church of authority and evangelization, a Church for both Jew and Gentile. Mary's prominent position between Sts. Peter and Paul illustrates the recognition of her maternal role in the midst of the Apostolic Church.
The muzlimites say the same thing about Mohammed...Why should someone believe you instead of them???
Saw a pope on tv bowing and praying to a statue of Mary, thanking her for saving his life...So that counts...
While you say it is not Catholic doctrine, that pope set the stage for Catholics to worship the mother of Jesus...
Well, consider this: When Christ was crucified, where was the Church? For the most part, the "Church" -- all of Jesus' select men, His right-hand men ---- had high-tailed it and headed for the tall grass. Everyone had betrayed, denied, or abandoned Jesus in His hour of need.
The church consists of believers regardless of where they are.
Th tiny remnant--- the faithful Church --- consisted of those at the foot of the Cross.
And how is this moment of attachment and fidelity pictured in the Gospel of John?
(John 19:26-28) When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
In that moment, Jesus gave His mother a son; and gave His Church a mother.
Good grief.....I've seen wilder projections from Obama's economists on how the economy is doing.
There is nothing in the text to indicate Jesus was giving the church to His mom. He was simply placing Mary under the care of John as He trusted John more than the rest.
The catholic idolatry of Mary seems to cloud every verse the catholic reads.
I'm afraid it's not as much as you would like to portray. You see, there is no such thing as "apostolic succession" the way the Catholic Church would like to have us believe. When Jesus said "he that heareth you heareth Me" He was was talking to those He had sent to spread the gospel message. That includes all of us not just apostles. When you initially posted that verse it was to support your belief in the "church" being an "infallible source". Twisting the words to make it look like we agree is disingenuous.
>>Aha. So tell us: when you have a dispute with a believer---let's say you have a dispute with me --- where do YOU go with the disputant to get a ruling?<<
When Jesus said "If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church" it was in the context of each of the local assemblies being treated as separate entities. We see that distinctly in the seven letters to the seven ekklisias in Revelation. Therefore, you question about a difference between you and me is moot. The only time that would be appropriate and applicable is with someone within the assembly that I meet with. The person who refuses to listen would not be allowed to meet with us any longer.
>>How often do you have to read that verse before you figure out there's a reason why Jesus renamed this guy "Rock"?<<
Peter was called a movable or unstable stone. The unmovable bedrock that the ekklesia is built on is Christ. We can see how unstable Peter was in his denial of Christ three times and his unstableness when dining with Jews for which Paul had to correct him.
>>I have never once seen you defend Tradition in any form,<<
Not if it's not supported by scripture. Why would I? I'm not so gullible as to believe that fallible men can keep a story pure through 2000 years without having it written down. Just the subject of indulgences proves that the Catholic Church lies.
>>St. Paul wrote, "Stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us."<<
You haven't proven that what the Catholic Church teaches is what the apostles taught. I stand firm on what the apostles taught as recorded in scripture. Catholics, Muslims, and Mormons stand firm on what some fallible men concocted.
>>If you're willing to fairly explore the Tradition instead of preemptively kicking it to the curb<<
I've explored some of your "traditions" Mrs. Don-o. When I compare them to scripture and what the apostles taught I find them abhorrent and blasphemous. As I said earlier. The more I learn of the Catholic Church the more abhorrent it becomes.
The total disconnect from reality that Catholics exhibit absolutely stuns me. My comment about the word "adore" as Catholics use it. Let's look.
"This worship called forth by God, and given exclusively to Him as God, is designated by the Greek name latreia (latinized, latria ), for which the best translation that our language affords is the word Adoration." [http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=228]
You see, we have to understand when Catholics use words it may not be what we normally think when the word is used. It's the word games Catholics play.
So don't assume we agree when we happen to use the same words.
It complains to the wrong person and wants to make it a point against another...
And, consistently uses pejoratives to try to make IT's points!
Where's that Waaaahmbulance pic?
Vergie, Next time you wish to refer to a post, please give a courtesy ping to the one posting IT!
Right you are, iscool--- that's not what anybody has in mind.
This stuff isn't "partial divinizing": nobody is "partially divinizing" Mary. It's honor and veneration, as in "Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother," a commandment which Jesus observed in practice, and which we, her other offspring (Rev. 12:17) also observe in practice.
You quoted verses about God not giving His glory to another, but then what are we to make of this? St. Paul says (Romans 2:6, 10), "God will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good work,... there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek."
This is not stealing glory from God, but rather God's freedom to give glory to those on whom His favor rests. This is a derivative glory, like the light of the moon, which is not independent, but beautifully reflects the light of the sun.
It's also a matter of inheriting glory as joint heirs with Christ:
(Romans 8:16-18):
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are as nothing
compared with the glory to be revealed for us."
(Romans 8:30) And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
This is what we are taking about. About all believers
Since Jesus was predestined to be the firstborn of many brothers, Mary was therefore predestined to be the spiritual mother of many offspring (Revelation 12:17) --- have a good look at that chapter of Revelation, for she and we her "many offspring" are still, as you will notice, enemies of the Serpent.
There's a lot there. THIS is what God has in mind.
Now, that's a wild statement!
You don't acknowledge Mary as the woman prophesied in Genesis 3:15, she whose offspring (Jesus)would crush the Serpent; you don't call Mary "Blessed" although she prophesied that all generations would do so; and you don't regard yourself as her spiritual offspring (as in Revelation 12:17) in the ongoing cosmic battle against the Serpent --- that selfsame Serpent who started the whole ball of sin and death rolling in Genesis 3.
It seems you have ignored her from Genesis to Revelation. It's Catholic/Orthodox wisdom which has "cross-referenced with other scriptures so the full meaning comes to light..." --- which is so far from your usual way of thinking about Scripture, you seem boggled by it. And that's unfortunate. But it could be helped if you'd look for the Big Picture.
Hmm. I agreed with you, because you said this:
"Your joking right? The little girl adored her dad. He adored his daughter. The wife adored her husband. Weren't those children adorable at the Christmas program? Get the picture?"
...meaning, I thought, that it's silly to say these people --- the little girl, the dad, the husband, the wife ---are guilty of idolatry. Even though they said they "adored" each other, we all "get the picture" that they are not actually offering each other the true and supreme "adoration", latria, which is for God alone.
But now you seem to saying they ARE idolaters?
You seem to be contradicting yourself.
I must be misunderstanding you. Set my mind at ease. Please tell me you don't think the people in your example are idolators.
**D&C 130: 22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also;**
The Son IS the flesh and bones THAT the Father DWELLS in.
God the Father is a Spirit (John 4:24).
Jesus Christ declared that the Father was in him doing the works, giving him the words to speak:
John 10:38 “But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is IN me, and I IN him.
14:10 “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak NOT of MYSELF: but the Father that DWELLETH IN ME, HE doeth the works”.
14:11 “Believe me that I am IN the Father, and the Father IN me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” And he just told us in the previous verse WHO DOETH the WORKS.
Jesus Christ, John, and Paul, all said that God is invisible.
God the Father made his attributes visible through Christ. Which is what the Son says thoughout the book of John.
The fact that your organization claims that the Father has a flesh and bones body, separate from the Son’s flesh and bones body, shows error in their very foundation. They are denying the words of Christ, John, and Paul.
No; thank YOU for being so obscure.
Do NOT say stuff like that!
It ONLY encourages him!
Mrs_Elsie(I have to LIVE with him.)
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