We had a great turnout for the video, "Miracles of the Eucharist", last night at St Stephen's. And, great discussion! Some stayed until almost 11 pm for an impromptu, "spirited", dialogue. Thanks to all who came out! Thanks again, too, to all who helped me!!
Please post any thoughts, reflections, or questions about the video/discussion here this week.
One of the questions that arose was about the context of the Eucharist. In other words, what is the big picture about the Eucharist (the Body and Blood of Jesus)? Well, there's too much to say about it here, but check out a section (# 1365) from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
"In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which he 'poured out for the forgiveness of sins'(Matthew 26:28)".
Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross and his Resurrection, then, are our means to salvation (how we get to Heaven). "For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and humanity, himself a human being, Christ Jesus, who offered himself as a ransom for all." (1 Tim 2:5). Christ's Body and Blood on the Cross is re-presented in the Eucharist: "the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world" (Jn 6:51).
So, as one person asked, what is the big deal about the Eucharist? The big deal is that the Eucharist is our ticket to Heaven: "anyone eats this bread will live for ever" (Jn 6:58).
As I said last night, the only places in the world where a person can truly eat this bread, "the bread which comes down from heaven" (Jn 6:50), is in a Catholic or Orthodox Church. That's a loaded statement which I will explain further if anyone wants...
7 comments:
Hey Adam S.,
While I wasn't focusing on the Eastern Orthodox, you make a good point. We share the same faith in the Real Presence, but the Eastern Orthodox are not in full communion with Rome. The Orthodox can receive Communion in any Catholic parish (Pope Paul VI removed all excommunications against the Orthodox); however, the Church urges Orthodox Christians to respect the wishes of their bishop.
But, can Latin Rite Catholics receive in an Eastern Orthodox parish/church? I'll check on that one. I'm inclined to agree with you, and say no, but I'll find out for sure.
In my post, I was mainly focusing on Protestant churches because one of the people at the discussion last night was a non-denominational Christian. I said it to her last night, and repeated it here, that Protestant churches a) do not believe that Jesus Christ is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist, b) do not believe or teach transubstantiation, c) have ministers who have neither the faculties nor the intentions universally to consecrate the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and d) do not have one, consistent teaching about the Body and Blood of Christ.
The Catholic Church has all of the above. And, the Orthodox! I urged the non-denominational Christian woman to check with her pastor or minister to find out what HIS/HER denomination teaches and practices exactly. I'm always interested to find out the different pastors' answers.
Peace, bro,
Greg
Just a follow-up to my comment above. Last night's discussion was a very good dialogue among Christians. I said then and I'll say again: there is much good in Christian churches that are not in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The Holy Spirit is present in these churches and in the work of their ministers, as our Pope has argued. We in the Catholic Church could learn much from our Christian brothers and sisters about preaching the Word of God.
My comments above merely state the truth of the situation with regard to the Eucharist. Our discussion along those lines was intense but loving and respectful. I highly respect the views and faith of my new friend and sister in the non-denomination Christian church. She impressed me and the others there late night with her love for the Lord and Divine Revelation.
In the conversation last night, and hopefully continuing online here, it was all about Christ. And, the Lord promises us that he was there last night ("where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there"), guiding the discussion to its rightful end: the eight of us praying the Lord's Prayer. Praise God for such fellowship!
Got the answer on the Communion in the Orthodox church question from one of our liturgical experts in the seminary. Catholics may receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox liturgy, but must have the approval of the Orth. priest to do so. So, Roman Catholics can receive Holy Communion in a) Eastern Rite Catholic liturgies, and b) Orthodox liturgies with the permission of the Orthodox priest.
Hey, Ted, I was just getting ready to respond to your earlier posts, and then just got your new comment. I think what you've written so far has been excellent; kinda exactly what I thought people's reactions might be to the video. And, sounds like a cool song.
Well, as Adam D. wisely suggested, here is one of many links that I can give you: http://www.therealpresence.org (if that doesn't work by clicking on it, then, yes, I could use your help in the "Links" department; ideally, I'd like to have a "Links" column on the opening page of this site).
Anyway, the site is great- lots of cool things on the Eucharist. I've used a couple of quotes from it on previous posts here. Thanks for the comments, and keep 'em coming! Good stuff; I'm sure that what you've been writing has hit home with others.
When thinking about the Eucharist, I think it makes sense to look at other times when the work of God has turned common and ordinary matter into un-common and extra-ordinary realities. Why did Jesus use clay to heal the blind man? Why did God choose a bramble bush to reveal His presence to Moses? And why is it, how could it be, that God chooses human beings, ashes and dust, like me and you, to carry out his divine work in the world? There are obviously many times when God has chosen to use something low and contemptible to do something glorious. The wood of the cross, which has saving power for everyone, came from an ordinary tree of little value. And in the same way, common bread and wine is called the Body and Blood of Christ, because it becomes the Body of Christ, because it is the Body of Christ; every Sunday during the miraculous "Second Half", and every day when we, as baptized Eucharist-receiving Catholics, go into the world. The Eucharist lives in us, and makes us truly the Body of Christ on earth!
And that, Brother Greg, is awesome.
And that, Anon, is an awesome insight! Whew, good stuff! Yes, if we really examine what the Eucharist is all about, we begin to see the whole story (of God and humanity) come together. In other words, in the Incarnation, God becomes man. The divine becomes human. The supernatural becomes natural. The infinite becomes finite. Why?
One of the main reasons, ultimately, is so that man can become God. So that human can become divine, etc. In the Eucharist, in a very real way, we become God ("whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life"-Jn 6:54). In receiving the (Eucharistic)body of Christ, we become the (mystical) Body of Christ. We share in the very life of God himself! Of course, we still have our human nature which is prone to sin, but God's grace perfects our human nature ("whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit" - Jn 15:5), as St. Thomas Aquinas taught.
So, along the lines of what you were saying, the ordinary things and people that come in contact with Christ on earth become "divinized", in a sense. Earth comes in contact with Heaven. In the Eucharist, we not only come in contact with Christ, we consume Him! We are one with God. Heaven and Earth unite. As I said at Mass the other night, "In the Eucharist, we have Heaven on Earth*. That is awesome. Awesome!!" (I'm guessing you were there)
*This point is drawn out well in a book by Dr. Scott Hahn, "The Lamb's Supper". Hahn is an amazing Catholic Scripture scholar who paints more of the total picture of the Eucharist as seen throughout all of Scripture.
I finally received the copy of the 'Miracles of the Eucharist' video last night. My wife and I watched it together.
I thought it was excellent and plan to show it a couple of times at our parish.
My wife really enjoyed it too. She is a convert to our faith and is a very logical person. I think that see the Eucharist Miracle's video really helped strengthen her faith!
Post a Comment