The Resurrection & The Eucharist

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.

"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."

You wouldn't want to say you're NOT one of her offspring, would you?

Mary is not my mother nor any Christian's mother; spiritual or otherwise...When that war takes place Christians will be in heaven attending the Wedding...

Christians don't worry about keeping God's commandments...They have been fulfilled in Jesus...

The Woman is NOT Mary and the offspring are not the church...

There's more than one verse in that chapter you have to contend with...

What? You think God failed? Perhaps you may be overlooking the fact that God didn't see it as His word so didn't preserve it? Not much faith in God there.

Do you think it was God who failed when he had to destroy Sodom? Do you think it was God who failed when He had to destroy the earth with the flood?

Was it God who failed when Jesus was rejected and crucified? Was it God who failed when all the Apostles were killed?

Man's freedom to choose over rides all. John gave these words:
Rev 22:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Why would John give this warning if it weren't possible to alter his words?

Do you consider Song of Solomon to be the "Word of God" too?

There we see the lack of knowledge of scripture that the Mormons and others have. You used Amos 8 as your example. But you neglect to include who God is talking to in that chapter.

From time to time I see people put scriptures into the wash cycle in a desperate attempt at forcing them to support their positions. They torture the meanings of the words to the point of silliness.

What you've done to Amos is a classic example.

Amos 8:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

The meaning is in the active words. What are they doing? They are actively seeking the words of the Lord. Where are they seeking? All over the world. Where are the words of the Lord to be found? No where, because there is a famine of hearing His words.

But all famines eventually end.

Wow! Your lack of faith in God is showing.

You are supremely NOT qualified to judge my level faith.

God has always and will always keep His word StormPrepper. He preserved the word He wanted preserved. It has been available to all generations just as He promised. The fact that some don't see it like the Israelites, Mormons, and others is only a consequence of their own rebelliousness as spoken of in John 12.

Yes God keeps His promises. But you're failing to see that it is not in the way you want it kept. God doesn't force His will on anyone.

What you're doing is back filling gaps in your beliefs in order to validate your accepted religion/doctrine whatever position you claim to have.

When I say that the Bible was not compiled by prophets or by revelation, your reply is "God wouldn't allow that to happen." God allowed His Son to be killed and His Apostles to be cast out and killed, but whoa don't you touch that Bible! Your conclusion just isn't consistent with God's commitment to man's free agency.

God had His prophets store His words away until mankind was again ready to believe the truth. And a prophet could be raised up to bring them again into the world. And with the promise that God spoke to prophets all over the world and eventually we would have all their writings.

Now that is consistent with a living God!

>>Do you think it was God who failed when he had to destroy Sodom? Do you think it was God who failed when He had to destroy the earth with the flood?<<

God promised to preserve His word for all generations. Can you show where He promised to preserve Sodom for all generations? You analogy falls flat.

>>Why would John give this warning if it weren't possible to alter his words?<<

Who said it wasn't possible to alter His words? The Catholics did it, the Mormons did it, and the Muslims did it. That doesn't negate the fact that His word was still available to any who wished to search for truth. Once again, you analogy fails.

>>Where are they seeking?<<

All the wrong places. Their seeking among the likes of Mormons, Catholics, Muslims etc. They are seeking among men who will "tickle" their ears. God didn't say all would find it. In fact He said many would not. He even blinded some to it. That still doesn't negate the fact that His word was still available to all generations.

>>Where are the words of the Lord to be found?<<

Among those who He called to be His as it has been throughout all generations just as He said.

>>What you're doing is back filling gaps in your beliefs<<

You are supremely NOT qualified to judge what I am doing. I am taking God at His word and trusting that He kept His word throughout all generations just as He promised.

>>God allowed His Son to be killed and His Apostles to be cast out and killed, but whoa don't you touch that Bible!<<

God prophesied through the prophets that He would give His son to save and that those who followed Him would suffer persecutions. He has done just as He said He would.

>>God had His prophets store His words away until mankind was again ready to believe the truth.<<

Show where He prophesied that in scripture.

God promised to preserve His word for all generations.

Please explain what you mean by "preserve". And you mean by "His word".

That still doesn't negate the fact that His word was still available to all generations.

In what form did His "word" take? -As you see it.

You are supremely NOT qualified to judge what I am doing.

I admit, it's beyond the ability of most to figure out what you're doing, I'll give you that. Do you even know?

I am taking God at His word and trusting that He kept His word throughout all generations just as He promised.

Mark 13:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

That's Jesus talking about the second coming. Now do you think you know what the Lord means when He says "generation?"

I am taking God at His word and trusting that He kept His word throughout all generations just as He promised.

Again what do you mean by "His word"? Are you referring to His promises, scripture, or something else?

I can very simply look at the state of modern "Christianity" and know what you're claiming is not true. Thousands of denominations, total chaos and a history of complete abandonment of Christ's teachings.

I'm sorry but the gospel you're teaching will not prepare me to meet God.

>>That's Jesus talking about the second coming.<<

That's right He was. And He had just listed a bunch of things what would happen which hadn't yet happened but are not happening. The generation that sees those things come to pass will not pass.

>>Now do you think you know what the Lord means when He says "generation?"<<

Yep! I just told you.

>>Again what do you mean by "His word"?<<

The oracles of God, Gods word which was entrusted to the Jews. God said it, I believe it.

>>Thousands of denominations, total chaos and a history of complete abandonment of Christ's teachings.<<

"Lest there come a falling away first".

>>I'm sorry but the gospel you're teaching will not prepare me to meet God.<<

The Jesus of Mormonism isn't the Jesus of scripture so that's not surprising.

Almost forgot to reply to you, but thanks to my wife (my eyes when I’m away from FR for days at a time), I was reminded to do so.

I said: No, they are denying the words of Jesus Christ

You said: No, we understand what they actually mean.

You say that with no scriptural backing, or quotes, and expect to make your case strong. in your first reply, you modify scripture (your words : “saw God sitting on his throne”).

**The doctrine you’re describing makes no sense. This isn’t all just an academic exercise. But that’s the way you’re treating it.**

I’m taking Jesus Christ at his word. He says that he is in the Father, and that the Father is in him (John 14:10,11). He has defined God the Father as a Spirit (John 4:23,24).

Jesus Christ defines the Holy Ghost as proceeding from the Father (John 15:26). It is the Holy Spirit OF God, not God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ was given ALL POWER in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28:18); was given the Spirit WITHOUT MEASURE (John 3:34,35). That’s what makes him BOTH Lord AND Christ (Acts 2:36), and has ordained him to be the Judge of quick and dead (Acts 10:42).

**You’re describing an unknowable God. A mystical, magical being that’s every where and no where, is two people sometimes, then three, then back to one... that’s nonsense,IMO.**

That’s because you’ve been taught man’s carnal understanding of the Godhead, instead of the plain teaching of the scriptures.

**No man has seen God the Father, unless Jesus shows Him.**

Jesus Christ is the perfect display of ALL the attributes of God, BECAUSE, as already said, he has all power, and all authority literally IN HIM (the Father IN him).

That’s how we become like Jesus: physical bodies filled with the Spirit of God; but to a measure, seeing that there can be only one King. Of course, these mortal bodies will be replaced with new ones, but still filled with the Spirit of God.

**Jesus was the first. It’s simple.**

I agree.

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