BENJAMIN AVOGA (1109
Eucharist: The
Center of Sunday Celebration:
Reflection based from Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum
Caritatis.
The Sunday assembly is
regarded as the summit of Christian celebration, who meets on the Lord’s Day to
remember the resurrection of the Lord. The Papal apostolic exhortation sacramentum caritatis express the
importance of every Christian to join the other Christians to celebrate this
live giving mystery. The Synod Fathers “reaffirmed the importance of the Sunday
obligation for all the faithful, viewing it as a well spring of euthentic
freedom enabling them to live each day in accordance with what they celebrated on
“the Lords day” (SC 73).
The importance of the Eucharist
it strenghten the assembly which made them to become one body in Christ.Its
imperative for all christian to realize that those who are not attached to any
assembly are weakening and are not part of Christ body.The Pope affirmed that
the lose of sense to Sunday as the day of the Lord is the symptomatic of the
loss of an authetic sense of Sunday as the day of the Lord (SC 73).
The Eucharistic
celebration commission all Christians to be a sign of Gods love to our brothers
and sister.As a pigrimage Church on earth we follow the example of our savior
who taught them as in John 13:12-15, and this is the call we receive every
Sunday.
The Holy Father
acknowledge the great argent in our modern world to rekindle the need of
knowing the important of meeting this day.He also agreed the world which is
filled with consumerism affects the life of a christian. He calls the world
should recognize this so that individuals can be permitted to refrain from work
without being penalized.He continue to express that the first priority should
be given to the essence of human life why he was created, to love, serve and at
last being with him.However, the role of human being is to fulfill his human
nature and to development of society hence “work is for man and not man for
work.”(SC 74)
There is a situation
because of lack of priests celebration of Eucharist is not possible.May be due
to distance from the parish which makes it difficult to celebrate every Sunday
or because of shortage of priest. However, the synod fathers recommend that the
faithful should go to one of the Churches in their Diocese where the presence
of a priest is assured, even when this demands a certain sacrifice (SC 75).
The Church, recognize
the role of the laity as far as pastrol care they offer, if some are instrusted
well they can lead the assembly for communion and prayer service. Pope
acknowledged that there are places where due to dictorial structure of gorverment
he priest are not allowed they showed their commitment by assembling together,
the faithful, would meet in a church or shrine, place on the altar a stole which
they still kept and recite the prayers of the Eucharistic liturgy, halting in silence
(SC 75).
In conclusion, the
relevance for Sunday assembly as asign of Christ body is of great importance
and we are all called to participate fully because its gives us the strength to
move ahead.The food of heaven is given to strengthen us the whole week.
****
BENJAMIN AVOGA (11098T)
Reflection based from the book, The Hidden Manna by James T.O’Connor.
(Pgs 299-313)
It was not by some aberration
that so much controversy on the Eucharist has centered on the real presence of
Jesus. The understanding of the Eucharist as mystical sacrifice is seen in the
doctrine of the real presence. During the Mass, Christ becomes present under the
appearance of bread and wine. The sacrifice during Mass is seen in the line of glorious Christ who is no longer on
the cross but Christ who lives at father’s present “the lamb who was slain”
making intercession for us.To look back the idea of sacrifice,because of sin,
the humanbeing was totally napble in adoring,praising and to worship God in
truth.However, the sacrifice of Jesus which was totally voluntarily achieved
its goal in uniting as again with the Father.In the Old Testament as the book of Hebrews is written that the blood of goats and bulls were
sprinkled on those who were in the ceremony unclean in order to become clean ,so Christ is the
perfect offering who offered himself
onces and for all.
During the Eucharist, Christ
becomes present, he does not repeat the same sacrifice of the cross but he makes us to participate in his one sacrifice .The last supper and
Calvary and the Mass are all the same
sacrifice in that not because of its historical acts in the past but
because of the intrinsic unity that all
actions past and present possess in the one priest and victim.Then if the person offers a
sacrifice in passover feast its only act as memorial of what happened
before even though the event becomes
present .Then one will question how many sacrifices are we making each day
bearing in mind the numbers of masses offered throughout the world? its during
the Mass that Christ continue in his unending giving to us as the offering to the Father.Its also
through the action of consecration done by the priest in persona christi that the actual sacrificial presence of the Lord as
he is now in heaven is realized.
The realization that
the Mass is a sacrifice of Christ and of the Church helps also to understand
how each Mass is itself a sacrifice and not just and effective memorial as
Christ on the cross.There, is important to note that is wrong to say that Mass
adds nothing to the sacrifice on the Cross as far as redemption is concern,
this is an imperfect understanding.Jesus
offered his sacrifice to the Father as a man which was sufficient to
reconcile the world with the Father.Its
clear that during Mass we bring our own lives,the joys and suffering as our
sacrificial offering.Its during that time taken up into the sacrifice of Christ
we too become part of the sacrifice praise and propitiation to the Father.
In the Mass there is
something new that is offered; in this way in each sacrifice the members of the
body add their own merit to the merit of Christ.It does not matter the number
but whenever the priest and the Christians are together, even if the priest is
alone each offering is important.
The presence of Christ in
all faithful is manifested greatly in endurance in terms of suffering in his
spirit especially the martyrs.Through their death, others by their suffering
and immolation of their bodies they become for real a total holocaust offered
to God through trasforming power of the Holy Spirit.The Eucharist a always
being seen as the sacrifice of the whole Church where the royal priesthood of
all the faithful manifests itself.Their sacrifice its constitued with that of
priest who through his ministerial priesthood brings the offering of Christ and
offer it in the name of all.
In conclusion, we can say that the sacrifice
which is offered everyday though the Mass, Christ associate with us.Himself is
mediator in the one mediator priests the one priest.God to ransome human he had
to do it without offering the sacrifice but he became like us inorder to save
us.
***
BENJAMIN
AVOGA (11098T)
The
reflection based on the letter of Pope John Paul II to all priests of the Church
for Holy Thursday (1985).
The Holy Thusday
liturgy is paramount because it unites in a special way the priests with Christ
(1) .He being the high priest is the one uniting them.He is alone the priest of
his own sacrifice.Its during the last supper that he left this sacrifice of the
Eucharist, the sign of the new and covenant not the same as the one of Melchizedek.which
himself exclaimed, do this in memory of me. The Church continuously offers this
sacrifice for the redemption of mankind.
The Holy Thursday also
is seen not only the birth of the Eucharist but also the birth of priesthood
this must not be seen as a prestige position but is a call to service to the Christian
community in the name of Christ and the Church. The Holy Thursday has
significance in the life of a priest by:
This celebration brings
the expression of unity in the priesthood of Christ.The Pope being the
presentative of Christ act as ahead of this college on earth. The Pope acknowledges
that Christ unites them with him not as is servant but his friend (4).
The celebration also
put us to see Jesus as the model of the priesthood. The Pope used the Gospel
text of the rich young man who was able to access Christ without any problem. Therefore
the priest should be available to all faithful. The priests were called to
guide the young people. They should be well equipped not only in their
ministrial work but also in education science in order to be relevance in the fundamental
questions that affects them in their time (4).
The priest should know
how to listen and to answer the young people.The Pope acknowledge this is the fruit
of interior maturity which is cultivated through consistency life of
prayer,being union with Christ and being docile to the Holy Spirit.Pope in the
letter demands that what is expected is the truth which should be expressed in
love and care.If ones will go sad,the sadness of this sort can be salvific so that with time this truth might gradually lead to the truth.The pastor in his
pastrol work should then should serve with humility (5).
The Lord supper is the fountain
of the Holy Eucharist which is seen in the line of the first source of
priesthood in the upper room.This is the source of strength and should be also
a source that supernatural youthness of spirit that comes from God.through the
Eucharist there should be a newness of life like the young man who wanted to
become one with God.
In conclusion, we can
say that the lord supper which the pope expresses during this institutive feast
of priesthood is important as a recalling to reflection into their life and commitment
so that as young man who wanted to enter into the kingdom of God will attract
many to follow him. The Pope message is relevant today to examine our call as
religious and see how we can be a source of hope to many young people around
us.
****
BENJAMIN AVOGA (11098T)
THE EUCHARIST AND MISSION:
Reflection based from Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum
Caritatis.
Pope Emeritus Benedict
XVI expressed, “there is nothing morebeautiful than to know him (Jesus) and to
speak to others of our friendship with him”( SC84).He continuous to explain the
love which we celebrate in the Eucharist is not something that we can keep for ourselves
but it demands us togo out and share with others. The world which is full of
calamities andsecularism which the place of God is almost null, there is a call
to express this love of God. To give people hope and to express this love of
God to them.TheEucharist therefore is thus “the source and summit not only of
the Church’slife, but also of her mission (SC 85). This makes the Church to be missionary
Church repeating the word of our savior in Mat.28:16-20, to bear witness to the
whole world. During the last supper Christ gave himself as a sacrifice for
salvation of mankind, therefore we cannot assemble together around
theEucharistictable without being drawn to the mission.
The mission of Christ
cannotbe understood betterwithout bearing in mind that we should bear witness
to Gods love. Christ in his eschatological discourse he commission to bear him
witness the same way he bears God love to us. The pope says “we become
witnesses when, through our actions, words and way of being” (SC 85). To places
where is difficult to celebrate theEucharist theChristian community witness
through their lives. Others they suffered martyrdom like those in Uganda who
were burnt, others suffered throughbeing thrown in the lion den. Their courage
to face the persecution is indeed what the Pope described as Eucharistic
imagery. He describes the martyrdom account of St. Polycarp of Smyrna in which
his life is described as a Liturgy with martyr himself becoming Eucharist.
St Ignatius ofAntioch he sees himself as “Gods
wheat”, and desired to become in martyrdom “Christ pure bread”. It’s noted that
during his time they experienced great persecution and he was a source of
encouragement as their pastor (SC 85). The pope acknowledged that the Christian
who offers his life in martyrdom enters into full communion with the paschal of
Jesus Christ and thus becomes Eucharist with him.
Here you can see that
there is the relationship between the Eucharist and mission. The Pope express
the more one is attached to the Eucharist the more one will recognize his role
and goal of bearing witness. The Eucharist should draw us to others and is
through others we are one in Christ. The Eucharist reminds us that we are
Christ body whom Christ died for us all. This then, call all Christians to be
reminded about their mission role in proclamation of the gospel. This will
reduce the understanding of themission as just human promotion event.
The Synod Fathers also
acknowledged that the freedom of bearing witness must be understood in freedom.
ThePope acknowledged that many religious men and women their religious freedom
is tantamount with their way of witness. However, where this freedom is put
into question then the human person is incapable to express the ultimate source
of his life (SC 87).So in those places even meeting for
few minutes is important to strengthen each other.
BENJAMIN AVOGA (11098T)
Eucharist: The
Center of Sunday Celebration:
Reflection based from Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum
Caritatis.
The Sunday assembly is
regarded as the summit of Christian celebration, who meets on the Lord’s Day to
remember the resurrection of the Lord. The Papal apostolic exhortation sacramentum caritatis express the
importance of every Christian to join the other Christians to celebrate this
live giving mystery. The Synod Fathers “reaffirmed the importance of the Sunday
obligation for all the faithful, viewing it as a well spring of euthentic
freedom enabling them to live each day in accordance with what they celebrated on
“the Lords day” (SC 73).
The importance of the Eucharist
it strenghten the assembly which made them to become one body in Christ.Its
imperative for all christian to realize that those who are not attached to any
assembly are weakening and are not part of Christ body.The Pope affirmed that
the lose of sense to Sunday as the day of the Lord is the symptomatic of the
loss of an authetic sense of Sunday as the day of the Lord (SC 73).
The Eucharistic
celebration commission all Christians to be a sign of Gods love to our brothers
and sister.As a pigrimage Church on earth we follow the example of our savior
who taught them as in John 13:12-15, and this is the call we receive every
Sunday.
The Holy Father
acknowledge the great argent in our modern world to rekindle the need of
knowing the important of meeting this day.He also agreed the world which is
filled with consumerism affects the life of a christian. He calls the world
should recognize this so that individuals can be permitted to refrain from work
without being penalized.He continue to express that the first priority should
be given to the essence of human life why he was created, to love, serve and at
last being with him.However, the role of human being is to fulfill his human
nature and to development of society hence “work is for man and not man for
work.”(SC 74)
There is a situation
because of lack of priests celebration of Eucharist is not possible.May be due
to distance from the parish which makes it difficult to celebrate every Sunday
or because of shortage of priest. However, the synod fathers recommend that the
faithful should go to one of the Churches in their Diocese where the presence
of a priest is assured, even when this demands a certain sacrifice (SC 75).
The Church, recognize
the role of the laity as far as pastrol care they offer, if some are instrusted
well they can lead the assembly for communion and prayer service. Pope
acknowledged that there are places where due to dictorial structure of gorverment
he priest are not allowed they showed their commitment by assembling together,
the faithful, would meet in a church or shrine, place on the altar a stole which
they still kept and recite the prayers of the Eucharistic liturgy, halting in silence
(SC 75).
In conclusion, the
relevance for Sunday assembly as asign of Christ body is of great importance
and we are all called to participate fully because its gives us the strength to
move ahead.The food of heaven is given to strengthen us the whole week.
****
My reflection on the Eucharist:
11O98T
The Eucharist; a source of our
strength
“In
times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the
prophets,in these last days; he spoke to us through a son”(Heb 1:1-2).St Paul
acknowledge the full revelation in Jesus Christ. It is throughJesus becoming
man, the first step of redeeming us from our lost dignity. Before his death
when he was with his disciples at supper he showed the highest peak of his
love. He offered himself fully to them, not as a sign as many thinks but his
total body and blood. However, St John express that he is bread from heaven (John
6:33).The new “manna” of redemptionfrom the one of our fathers where God satisfies
them for a while but this will make one to attain eternal life.He comes as a
living bread to be broken to all humanity so that to experience the love of
God.
The
Eucharist is the highest expression of love to all humanity .To understand, the
new Passover was institutedin order to feed the humanity from the spiritual
hunger.Jesus gave out his body as a living sacrifice on the cross to give life
to all humanity who are under the bondage of sin.He communicate to us today
through his body and blood.
Jesus
commanded his disciple to commemorate this sacred mystery. It is a clear
invitation that all are God’s people and we are called to participate in the Eucharistic
banquet where our Christian hope is illuminate.Through the Eucharist, Jesus
becomespresent and our struggles are united with him.He is not only a source of
strength in our spiritual journey alone but also in our physical journey
towards God. It’s through this mystery that God
manifest to us the mystery of
salvation. Its clear indication that God comes to us everytime we are together gathered
in his name.
In
the Pope’s encyclical Sacramentum Caritatis,
the Pope emphasized the important of the Eucharist to all believers as the
source of strength to allChristians and the foundation of the Church.He says, “the
church’s faith is essentially a eucharistic faith, and it
is especially nourished at the table of the eucharist.Faith and the sacraments
are two complementary aspects of ecclesial life.”
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