As you know, today we celebrate/commemorate the Last Supper and Jesus' institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. I like to say that the real birth of the Church happened at that table on that Thursday night. (Sometimes you'll hear people say Pentecost is the birth of the Church, but I think it's Holy Thursday, which to me would make Good Friday & Easter the baptism of the Church, and then Pentecost would be the Confirmation of the Church, but that's hardly Church teaching, that's just me talking.)
Anyway, I was thinking about how, when it comes to what most people would agree is Christianity's most important, and defining, doctrine - the doctrine of the Trinity - there was a lot of debate about that in the early Church, and it proved difficult to clarify, ultimately requiring two ecumenical councils in the fourth century. But when it comes to the Church's theology of the Eucharist - that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, who is really and truly present under the veil of the elements - there was NO debate about this in the early Church - NO controversy, and the only dissenters were the heretics, whom I suppose we need to thank for that since the mainstream bishops would never have felt the need to write down their clarifications of the doctrine, if not for the few heretics who rejected it.
So as we go into Triduum, I think it's important to keep in mind the intimate connection between Jesus' sacrifice, and his sacrament - a connection which continues on every time we receive him in the Eucharist.
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.
This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.
Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...
And don't forget, if you would like to read my latest novel:
The Sword and the Clover - just let me know by email.
I'm happy to send you the PDF version, even if you haven't been a monetary supporter of the community - all I ask is that you don't share it with anyone else.
My email address:
Keep in touch!
JIm
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