Tag: eucharist

Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10; Psalm 29:1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b & 9c-10; Mark 8:14-21

Leaven Warning

Leaven can be defined as to permeate and modify or transform.

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod.”
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.

Jesus’ caution to us is to be wary of what we allow to permeate and modify or transform us.

Disciples Misunderstand Jesus

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
They concluded among themselves that [the warning]
was because they had no bread.

Jesus reminds the disciples that his warning is not about going hungry for bread for the belly. Rather for that question he reminds them of the superabundant events of the feeding miracles.

And do you not remember,
when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?”
They answered him, “Twelve.”
“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?”
They answered him, “Seven.”

Twelve is the number of tribes of Israel and Seven is the number of nations – meaning the blessing is for all people.

Understanding

When he became aware of this he said to them,
“Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?
Do you not yet understand or comprehend?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
And do you not remember?

He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

The Wary Leaven

• What does the leaven of the Pharisees give you? The Tradition of the Elders being more important than the commandments. Empty and controlling without good purpose.
• What does the leaven of Herod give you? The senseless execution of John the Baptist had already occurred.

The Divine Leaven

• From our first reading, the Ark of Noah, to protect us from the ravages of the world. We have the rainbow to remind us.
• From our gospel portion, the feeding of the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand. We have the Eucharist to remind us.
• We know of so many other examples just outside of our reading portions today. We have the sacred Gospels to remind us.

Remind us that: Good leaven changes you in the best ways.

Leaven Choices

In the end, Jesus leaves us with a choice of two types of leaven:

1. Leaven of death. Murder and empty worship.

2. Leaven of life. Love and fullness of blessings.

What will we allow to permeate and modify or transform us?

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021825.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Corpus Christi
Readings: Ex 24:3-8; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18; Heb 9:11-15; Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

Notes

A helpful short teaching on Corpus Christi: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/a-short-teaching-on-corpus-christi.pdf

Summary

In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present — body, blood, soul, and divinity — under the appearances of bread and wine, the glorified Christ who rose from the dead. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the “Real Presence” of Christ in the Eucharist. Source: https://www.usccb.org/eucharist

Reflection

Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna; I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.” (Rev 2:17)

In our celebration today we recall the progressive elaboration of theophany culminating in the Real Presence of the Lord in the species of the Bread and Wine.

Personal Reflection

Back in the days when I taught RCIA (OCIA) I would discuss the hidden manna and the white stone after the Eucharistic theology was given. It has such powerful meaning although not completely understood. I would teach the Hidden Manna was the Eucharist itself – Transubstantiation, appearance is the same, the substance has changed. The White Stone references can be found here: Rev 3:12; 19:12; Is 62:2; 65:15. Your intimate connection to the Lord is as a lover’s name, shared one to the other, unique and personal.

I would give them a White Stone to remember this promise of an intimate love name. I would encourage them to receive the Eucharist daily as a living intimate moment.

The height of the Mass for the priest, as priest, is the Institutional Narrative. The height of the Mass for the priest, as man, and for all of us is the Holy Communion.

This is why we come. This is why we try to be Holy as God is Holy. Because we want to commune with the Lord, that is, an intimate sharing of self, one to the other, at the physical, mental and spiritual levels. Completely, entirely, fully.

First Reading

Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

Responsorial

I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

Second Reading

The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

Sequence

Lauda Sion: http://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2022/06/19/lauda-sion-2/

Gospel Acclamation

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.

Gospel

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb.

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry