SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BLOOD AND BODY OF CHRIST - OUR FREEDOM

in #steemchurch6 years ago (edited)


(An excerpt from Fr. Avemaria’s homily)

To understand this, we must first consider the following related scriptures.

The book of Exodus 24:3-8 tells us about the sacrifice of young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. Sprinkling the blood on the people, Moses said:

“This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with His words”

Considering the lyrics of a common Hymn we know, where the Psalmist says:

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? I will raise the cup of salvation and I will call on God’s name.


Wikipedia, CCO Licensed

When Jesus was eating the Passover with His disciples, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to His disciples and said:

“This is my body”

Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying:

”This is my blood of the covenant which will be shed for mankind”

SWEET SACRAMENT DIVINE



A shepherd feeds his flock of sheep with grass, but this Good Shepherd (Jesus) feeds us His sheep with Himself – His body and blood.

How can we fathom this incomprehensible love shown to us in this wonderful sacrament?

Here is one who satisfies the hungry heart with gift of financed wheat.

No mortal can tell the mystery of His will neither can the world contain Him yet He came to our hearts to live.

In spite of sins, weaknesses and flaws, He a holy God chooses us to be among His family, joint heirs with Christ, sitting in heavenly places.

It's by grace that we are counted worthy to feast on this heavenly food.

THE ETERNAL LIFE



Max Pixel free photo

Jesus Himself in John 6:41 speaks calmly: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven and whosoever eats this bread will LIVE FOREVER.

The eternal life is the life of God Himself; a life that we His children too ought to possess; a life that knows no death.

By eating this bread (His body) we are transformed from mortality to immortality; nothingness into existence, captivity into freedom.

In John 6:41-47, Jesus leaves us with a barrage of promises. Just as He draws life from His father, when we eat Him, we too draw life from Him.

It is in then that we can live in Him and Him in us.

It's not the will of God that man should die. In Psalm 82:6, we learn that we as gods are to possess a life that even grave cannot touch.

Sadly, our first parents erred which made the first birth end in a graveyard (Psalm 2:7)

To express His overwhelming love for us and the fact that He cannot give up on His children, He came as a saving Lord to give us the bread of life to eat.

When we eat this bread, we become like Him, not just like Him, but we become Him in our world. We become immortal; we become the Jesus to our neighbors or those around us.

We have come to this alexia of life for we are born of God and our life is hidden in Him.

WE BECOME WHAT WE EAT



When a mother breastfeeds her baby, the baby draws life from the mother because the breast milk is a part of the mother. It is in this similar manner that we draw life from God – we become like Him (like the case of the child and the mother).

John 6:66 was when the people turned back on Him. (“666”, a demonic number that shows the denial of the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist)

St Ignatius of Antioch cries out:

Christians! Christians!! Christians!!!, What do you eat? Did you take the blood of bulls and goats? Why then do you behave like bulls and goats. If you have feasted on the body and blood of Jesus, should you not behave like Him whom you ate?

WE ARE BORN INTO HIM




Flickr image, Labeled for reuse

The beginning of our reality is that we are born into God. It is by this that we cry “Abba Father”.

The glory to come is yet unknown for eyes have not seen nor ears, heard what God has in stored for His people.

He desires that we may be perfect just as He is. This is only made evident by the presence of His Spirit. Hence, we are perfected in the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is the food for our journey. It contains the promise for our salvation. It's our super substantial insurance.
He came to save us that we who believe might be redeemed.

We must receive this eternal food as a substantial armor with a good dosage of faith. We must eat and drink for the journey is far and tough.

St Ambrose said that we who have eating of Him should come out from the masses like a loin breathing fire. We must stand for truth.

God has brought us into divinity.

WHAT DOES HE REQUIRE OF US?



It is His will that we become His hands and feet; that our lives reflects a continuity of His kind of life here on earth.

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as if it’s in heaven” is only made possible when we choose to participate in this activity. The good that God wants to do, is in our hands.

When we do not give to our neighbors what we ought to give them, that we do unto God.

And on the last day, He will say to those at His right hand:

When I was hungry, you gave me food to eat; when I was thirsty you gave me drink; naked, you clothed me – Now enter into the home of My Father prepared for you.

It is this category that God will hold as a crown, for we are chosen graciously to become eternal family.

As a member of the eternal family, we create life around us - a life that brings hope. a hope that bears fruits, not just fruits, but good fruits, fruits that will last.

Finally, St Thomas said:

“We are citizens of two nations, heaven and earth. We are just passersby here on earth for our true home is in heaven”.

Therefore, as heavenly citizens, we must learn to consolidate to divine will; working in accordance to God’s agenda and propagating the Gospel of Truth as instruments of power and peace.


Credit: Steemit Steemchurch

Sort:  

Well constructed and well written

Thanks for taking out time to share with us

Resteemed

OS

Under the Old Covenant, forgiveness was dependent on the blood of animals.

But under the New Covenant, Jesus became the propitiation for our sins.

Hebrews 9:13-15 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Exactly!
Thanks for throwing more light brother Tikhub.

I'm really grateful.

Nice written mate

Thanks for sharing with us on such an enlightening topic

OS

No, simply taking part in communion doesn't make you more godly. It's not the literal blood and body of Christ either. It's symbolic.

Do you want to be more godly? Pray everyday. Read your Bible everyday. Go to church regularly. Take obedience seriously. Growing spiritually is work and it takes time.

To become a child of God you need to repent of your sins and accept what Jesus did on the cross to pay for those sins. And you need to accept Jesus as your Lord. Having someone else baptize you as an infant is worthless.

Well spoken @barncat
But these cannot be actualized when God's Spirit is not in us.
The manifestation of these fruits first begins with believing.

It's this faith that translates in to action.
When we feed on God's Word, we grow in revelation.

It was in that same feast that He said:

"Do this in remembrance of me"

As we drink the cup of suffering with him; enduring tribulations, we will also rise with Him in glory.

Shalom!

Nice written mate

Thanks for taking out time to share with us

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.36
TRX 0.12
JST 0.039
BTC 70112.96
ETH 3549.99
USDT 1.00
SBD 4.71