tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post2459484133976400014..comments2020-07-21T23:35:20.703-04:00Comments on Nacreous Kingdom: Lent, Day 16: VINETracy Dickersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-76847675075031138362011-03-29T21:06:19.164-04:002011-03-29T21:06:19.164-04:00Michael,
First, I want to wholeheartedly thank yo...Michael,<br /><br />First, I want to wholeheartedly thank you for reading my blog. In a world where people do a lot of talking and very little listening, it is an extreme honor to have someone take the time to seriously consider my thoughts as you have. I don’t practice the type of spirituality that finds it necessary to bludgeon another with my opinion, nor do I feel it necessary to use my blog as a platform to do so. I am always hoping that it will be a safe place for people to come where they can bring a formed or nebulous opinion and reform it even more. I admire anyone who is willing to continually learn more about the vastness that is God, and I strive to also be such a person.<br /><br />The Eucharist is indeed a diamond with many facets, so I thank you so much for allowing me to look at the Eucharist via your unique prismatic perspective! <br /><br />It is probably more likely that the meaning of Jesus’ words in the passage above were meant to be taken allegorically, rather than literally, but for our purposes here, I will be generous in my reading of it.<br /><br />I agree that participating in the Eucharist is indeed a powerful way in which we can tap into the Divine presence. Further, it is an effective way to both symbolize our commitment of our Lord, recognize (remember) all that He has done for us, and to display solidarity with Him and his mission in the world. I’m sure that you will agree with me when I say that there is something very mystical about what happens in the Eucharist. The elements that our Lord provides at His table (the bread and wine) are extremely important, and when we come to the table, we come with very little to offer…we come with only a few seemingly meaningless things- our humility…our reverence…our gratitude…our brokenness…our very selves. These things pale in comparison to what HE brings, so much so that we might feel that we may as well not even bring them. But bring them we must. On a frequent, if not daily basis, as we remember Him and bring to Him these, we lay ourselves before Him and give ourselves wholly to Him. This is what Jesus was describing –a “Shema-shaped spirituality”- that is essential for us to practice in order to flourish. (Mark 12:29-31) It is this radical, relationship-centered, wholehearted love of God that Jesus calls us to, over and against the rote, ritualistic practices of the religious practitioners of the day.<br /><br />For this reason, I feel most sure that Jesus himself would caution us to beware of trusting in our own actions (even if those actions are ones that promote participation in religious rituals), and that He would strongly encourage us to instead cultivate an intimate and reverent relationship with Him through loving obedience, gratitude, and a humble daily offering of our broken selves to him.<br /><br />Peace, <br />TracyTracy Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10696428121254099417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-4333953924768739562011-03-29T20:46:29.587-04:002011-03-29T20:46:29.587-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Tracyhttp://www.nacreouskingdom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4222900736489214199.post-23399024555100489982011-03-28T07:53:40.335-04:002011-03-28T07:53:40.335-04:00Dear Tracy,
ABIDE IN ME
Jesus was very clear in ...Dear Tracy,<br /><br /><b>ABIDE IN ME</b><br /><br />Jesus was very clear in what we must do in order to have Him <b>ABIDE</b> in us and we in Him.<br /><br />He left this command for us in <b><i>John 6:53-57,</i></b> and it is the only place in Holy Scripture in which you will find it:<br /><br /><b>53 " Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (<i>the taken away branch</i>); <br /><br />54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. <br /><br />55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. <br /><br />56 HE WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM. <br /><br />57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me."</b><br /><br />What does <b>"Truly, truly"</b> mean to you in verse 53? What does <b>"unless"</b> mean?<br /><br />The body lives because it receives real food sustenance. Starve the body and it will die.<br /><br />Just as the body needs real sustenance, so does the soul, else it will not bear fruit.<br /> <br />The soul lives by real Divine sustenance, the <b>true presence</b> of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940745178193985942noreply@blogger.com