Posted on 02/16/2011 1:23:06 AM PST by Cronos
At first glance it would seem to be impossible to take an ecumenical view of the various historical Christian views on this ordinance. If the pastoral blessing turns the bread and wine into pieces of Jesus’ literal body and blood, having demonstrable and startling supernatural properties, that’s a lot different from it serving as a pure memento in the manner that a Jewish Passover dinner service uses its symbolic foods.
However, as a fundie of the latter persuasion about the communion ordinance, I can definitely tell that something special has happened when in good conscience I eat and drink what I regard, and what the pastor regards, as the symbolic bread and wine. It brings to a subjective focus how Christ, though literally sacrificed once way back at Calvary, has somehow managed to penetrate me. My life is now hidden with Christ in God. It is an ineffable experience (i.e. goes beyond mortal words). It didn’t absolutely need the communion elements to bring it about, but they are quite helpful to the purpose and the Lord tells Christians to do it.
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Mal 1:11 "11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts."
The original sacrifice was at one place only in the old testament. Here The Lord is showing a future in the world when this was written. That there are many places for this to be offered in the future. It can only make sense in the context of the Mass.Which is today.
11"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles;"
All over the world there are churches saying this offering.
"In EVERY place incense shall be offered unto my NAME"
Now the emphasis is every Place. When I see the priest with the Incense holder with that beautiful aroma going around the the altar. This is part of the prophecy even when it is not every day the emphasis is on every place not every day done with incense. Which use to puzzle me but not now after prayer and thought. The Re-presention of the eternal offering which is Jesus who is eternal because of his divinity. It just is amazing how many levels of thinking is going on here. God is outside of his creation( The universe) which is how time and space exists. It just is amazing!
Praise Jesus!
It is interesting that you would post this now.
I had a conversation this weekend with a fellow Catholic woman regarding the Eucharist. We are both members of Catholic Daughters of the Americas and we were having a bake sale so we spent the whole day Sunday at church. Lots of time for conversation!
Allow me to offer a little background. I am a revert and when I returned to the Church I went to confession, received Communion and volunteered as a lector and EM. When filling out a form to also teach CCD, one of the questions was, “Are you married in the Church?” I wasn’t even sure what it meant and asked my priest. To my utter dismay, I learned that having been married by a Protestant minister, I was not to receive any Sacraments until my marriage was blessed by the Church.
Long story short, it was nearly 8 years before that happened and for 8 years I attended Mass without receiving.
Happily on Nov. 24th of last year, my husband and I, with our two children stood before my priest and were married.
I have resumed acting as a lector, EM and CCD teacher.
Back to the conversation....
I was saying what a joy it was to be the one who brought Communion to the handicapped and elderly in the church who could not get to the altar.
My friend said that she could never do that. I asked her why and she told me that she had never touched a consecrated Host. Though it is common practice now, she had never received the Eucharist in the hand and could never imagine helping to distribute Jesus at Mass. She felt herself to be unworthy to do so.
I wonder how many others think the same way. I thought about it later and thought that it was kind of sad that she thought that way.
Jesus was human. We know that people touched Him during his life and after His death. St. Thomas even placed his hands in the Holy Wounds of Jesus.
I had thought about starting a caucus thread about it, but now, God in His goodness has given me the opportunity to ask the question of my fellow Catholics here.
How many deny the Church their service in this way because of feeling they too are not worthy?
Great question.
Not being contentious, but this came to mind: “Lord I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the Word and I ahall be healed.”
When one truly believes, one can’t help but feel not worthy to hold in our hand Jesus, Our Lord and Savior.
But, then I think that God chose humanity for Himself and also chose to be present for us in the Eucharist.
How much more are we unworthy to receive Him in such a way than we are to touch Him with out hands?
This is huge.
It is awe inspiring to me to distribute Communion at Mass.
When I see the faces of those who are coming forward, I can’t help but smile at their joy and reverence for Jesus.
This last Sunday was the first time I have gone out to the handicapped and all I can say is WOW!!!
I can’t imagine being more blessed.
I am deeply touched by *your* love and reverence for Our Lord.
I am grateful that He has called me to His Church and if I can share His love, and be His light for others, then He has truly given me a gift.
I find many here, including yourself, who understand and share my joy and peace. Like the loaves and fish which Jesus blessed and shared, our love of Christ as fully practiced in His Church increases with the sharing of it.
Have to depart for the day and don’t know when I’ll be back because of work.
Have a blessed day and I will be praying for our brother in peril, Said.
Thank you, Jvette. God be with you.
Wonderful testimony! Thanks so much!
"It brings to a subjective focus how Christ, though literally sacrificed once way back at Calvary, has somehow managed to penetrate me."
I thought it was a surpassingly beautiful statement.
I am a part of the RCIA team in my parish (we teach adults preparing for Baptism, as well fallen-aways that are coming back and want to be Confirmed.) I think I'll use your statement as part of my presentation on the Eucharist-- if that's all right with you.
Now if I may, let me comment on something else you said [apparently making reference to Catholic doctrine] which I would like to gently correct [because it's not an accurate restatement of Catholic doctrine]:
"If the pastoral blessing turns the bread and wine into pieces of Jesus’ literal body and blood, having demonstrable and startling supernatural properties..."
First, no Catholic would ever say that a "pastoral blessing" turns bread and wine into anything. I always make this clear with my class: Folks, don't think Father Kevin is doing this. That wouiuld be about half-past impossible. Father Kevin is just saying Christ's words: Christ is doing this."
Second, nmo Catholic would ever say thtat the Eucharist is "pieces of Jesus' literal body and blood." Again, this comes up in class, usually from somebody saying "OK, like, how is this different from cannnibalism?" [At that point a few people say "Eeeewww."]
And my response is: Cannibalism is killing somebody and eating dead body parts. The Eucharist is not like that: it's Somebody laying doen His own life, and giving us to eat His whole living self: alive, not dead; the whole Christ --- Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity ---not just parts.
And this is not that He should become part of us, but that we should become part of Him. It's we who become members of His body, and not the other way around.
You may agree with this in whole or in part, or you may disagree, and that's all right. But5 just for accuracy's sake, this is what the Catholic Church teaches.
Sorry. (Fumbling and bumbling.)
It's 'umbling.
:o}
Thank you for your reply.
"It brings to a subjective focus how Christ, though literally sacrificed once way back at Calvary, has somehow managed to penetrate me."
If you want to use my remark, please note that this is the witness of the typical experience of a certain evangelical Christian (i.e. me) in a bible church that regards its communion elements as simple symbols of what Jesus Christ sacrificed at Calvary. But we do recite the appropriate bible quotations, usually from NASB or NKJV.
Bless you, brother in Christ. I will convey your evengelical POV as well as I can. This is very meaningful to me.
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