The Eucharist. The Real Deal. Part 1

To understand the Eucharist one must first understand Passover. Passover is the Jewish feast to celebrate recalling the night God freed Israel from Egypt. The Jews were told by God to keep a memorial. (Ex 12:14) A memorial in biblical understanding is not to only remember the past, but to relive it. The events of the past were made present. This is why Jews celebrate Passover think of themselves as one with their ancestors. Through the exodus all Israelites of all generations were delivered from Egypt. Along with the past, Jews look to the future at Passover. Before the time of Christ the prophets had foretold of another exodus. A Messianic king to renew the covenant God made with his people.

What was the point in God having the Jews preform an animal sacrifice? Was animal sacrifice an ends or a means? It was both. But more of a means. The animal sacrificed symbolized the person's giving of them self to God, and by this strengthening their relationship with God.

Now a days we can eat meals with anyone and it not mean a thing. For example, lunch time at any restaurant, there will be a room of complete strangers eating together, and no one is bound to be friends. But in biblical times meals shared with others forged covenant bonds. Enemies could seal peace by having a meal together. (Gen 26:26-31, 31:54-55) Why do you think the Pharisees were so scandalized by Jesus eating with sinners?

What would a meal with God do? In a ritual sacrifice part of the animal was offered to God, and part was eaten by those that preformed the sacrifice. The communion meal was the pinnacle and completion of these type of sacrifices. In sacrificing the animal AND eating it sealed communion with God. A communion meal is required at the Passover sacrifice. If you read (Ex 12:8-12) you'll see that since the first Passover the Jews are required to eat the Passover Lamb. By eating the lamb the Jews participate in the sacrifice.

Talk at ya Later

I Love Indulging

Understanding Indulgences is quite a difficult topic among Catholics. So it is expected that Protestants don't understand it ether. I came across a good explanation of it while listing to Catholic Answers Live. Patrick Madrid was the guest and did a fabulous job. It's around the 20 min mark. http://www.catholic.com/audio/podcast/ca070925a.mp3

Judge judging good.

Check out this article. It's nice to see the pendulum swinging back toward the side of life.
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=25487&wf=rsscol
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I don't wana eat my veggie's!! NOOOoooo!!

I've been reading a book on prayer. Isn't it odd how when we need something big like a life saved, a new job or something like that. We go straight to the big man! But, for normal day to day stuff, most people put praying off. Almost like homework in High School. It reminds me of when I was a kid, eating my vegetables at the dinner table. They were the last thing on my plate, my father would tell me to eat them so I would grow up big and strong. That's just like prayer, I want to do it earlier in the day, but many times put it off till bedtime. I know if I want my spiritual life to get big and strong I need to pray more.

I know what I'll do! I'll pray about praying more!! Now if I could just find time to pray. He he he.

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Boring....ZZZZZZzzzz

Hehehehe..He's so cute! Ok now to the ranting!
Is this you at Mass? How many people at the Mass you go to feel like this? I know I did. This is all I herd "The Lord be with you, Bla bla bla bla.... bla. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord". I admit I'm not pumped every Sunday, but most I am.
Now the million dollar question. How do we help other parishioners who don't want to be there, get excited for Mass? (I really wish I knew this one) I know, it's not like Jesus will be there........ WAIT!! Jesus Christ is there!! Gee.. How stupid am I?
All joking aside how sad is it, that most Catholics are so use to the Mass they miss what it's all about. It's like if the President came to town. (pretend you would like that for argument sake) The whole town shows up, so they can wait to leave. Forget the Pres has a message about YOUR country. Forget that he didn't have to show up. Gosh..Forget it all!!! Now why in the world would we treat our creator like that? Our Redeemer, Savior? Our Lord and our God?!! Man, do we have ego issues or what!!??
Prayer. We need to pray. But, without doing more harm than good. What can we do? Any one got an idea?
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Ooo..Ooo..Me First, Me First!!!

As humans we constantly have a need or this desire to find out the "why", or "how" things work. The brain, cosmos and God. It's a search for God, weather one believes it is or not. There are those that put them selves first. They seek out the things that make em happy RIGHT NOW! Money, sex, drugs or may-be power. It's all a search for God. One may not know it, but in essence it is. Think about it. Why do we seek out God? Um..Um..Love, joy, happiness... How does all that swell stuff make us feel? Mmmm.. Good.. Now why does that guy every one knows, constantly trying to get a new piece of... uh..you know? Cuss it feels good! Even though that guy is going about his pursuit for happiness in a way that puts his joy above every one else. He is still trying to find happiness. But why is it, we have such a hard time getting it through our thick craniums, joy comes from something other than serving our selves.
Is this desire to seek out (or may-be a corrupted desire to seek) a result of sin? Since we cannot be in complete union with God here on earth. Do we see things so distorted, that the truth looks like a lie? All those philosophers throughout time asking "what is truth?". If our vision wasn't so distorted people could ask, "what is truth?" and we would be able to point saying "It's that, right there". (crude example I know)
Look at drugs. There are people that go to great lengths to get that next fix. To get that euphoric feeling back, AND in doing so distort their view/idea of reality. Why is our rejection of reality to the point of suffocating our senses? It really shows how far we've come. In Genesis, Adam hid when he knew he was outside of Gods grace. Now a days, we hide by pumping so many different chemicals into our brains, we're barley coherent. It's that hiding game little kids love to play. "You can't see me, if I can't see you."
Talk at ya later