Mary-Mother of God--the "Theotokos"
The Eucharist 101-Emmaus
Photo By: Flickr/Seetheholyland.net
Jesus says Mass with the disciples on the road to Emmaus:
Luke 24: 13 And behold, two of them were going that very day (the day of the Resurrection) to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
Point 1: Jesus can appear to people without them recognizing Him.
The Liturgy of the Word, and homily:
Luke 24:25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist:
30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
Point 2: After Jesus blesses (consecrates) the bread, He vanishes because His physical body is no longer needed—He IS the bread (see John 6: 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”)
32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
In Adoration, we too recognize He is in the bread and we spend some quiet personal time with Him.
1 Cor 11:27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
How can you be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord if it really isn’t His body and blood?
28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number have died.
How are people sick and dying if just eating a symbol?
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About the Author
I was a lukewarm Catholic for many years until my wife and I became parents, and that spark of Faith that was strong as a child was rekindled and burst forth anew. I became a commissioned extraordinary minister of Holy Communion for my local Parish (Our Lady of the Snows in Clarks Summit, PA), and take communion to the homebound of the community, and am on the parish's monthly Adoration team.
I began praying the rosary and was guided to use the internet to explore the Catholic Faith.
After listening to many great apologists like John Martinoni, Scott Hahn, Mike Cumbe, and countless others, I wanted to gather such resources together to help others on similar journeys. In December of 2010, I started the Facebook page/community Cathletics: Catholic Apologetics as a hub for these resources. The page come in 2nd in the About.com reader's choice award for best Catholic Facebook page. Cathletics also provides “Praystation Rosaries” (rosaries with prayer booklets) to the children of the parish and print weekly coloring pages based on each Sunday's Gospel.
I am now also the parish manager for our Lighthouse Catholic Media CD/Book Kiosks, and run an evangelization booth featuring the Lighthouse kiosks at our annual summer bazaar.
