Dear Siju,
I apologize for not responding to you till now. You had asked about
Biblical references. Over and above the responses of the learned
others, I thought this might be useful as an answer to your query.
What I had first posted is here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/19631
Praise be to the Lord!
Let us examine if any of what I said makes any Biblical sense. Why
does the Holy Church teach us to approach each of the Liturgical
Celebrations with the same awareness and seriousness as if we were
actually present, and the incident 'remembered' is happening right in front of
our eyes? Well, the simple answer is - because it is! We are "caught up" in a
warp beyond our time in our Liturgical celebrations, into a realm where there is
"unceasing" prayer to and worship of the Most Holy Trinity.
I think it is appropriate to begin by trying to understand Christ
apart from time - Christ lives in a dimension before, in, and after
His life span on earth (the life span on earth was just 33 years in
our history from 4 BC till about 29 AD) Listen to His own words as
revealed to John "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord
God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty"
Revelations 1:8
Also while He was on earth He did say -
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was, I am!"
John 8:58
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many"(Mark
14:24). Note that Christ said his blood was poured out for 'many'.
This blood He said is the wine He held in the Cup. There were just 12
people (Apostles) seated with him at that point in time. If it was
just meant for them, He would have not used the word "many". The
blood (and the Body) is meant for "many" not in the room at that
point in time - those not even born then, those who had already
passed on - "Many" reveals a timeless dimension to the Holy Eucharist
as the Lord institutes it.
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of
this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I
will give for the life of the world." John 6:51
Note the words of the Lord. If anyone eats of the bread (that is
Himself) he will live "forever". Another portion of the Holy
Scripture attributing timelessness to the participation in the Holy
Eucharist.
"Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child
is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to
be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many
hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
Luke 2: 34,35 Here Simeon is prophesying to Mary about her
son. "falling and rising of many", "thoughts of many hearts will be
revealed" - these clearly refer to those living then, also "many"
includes those who passed away and those who were yet to be born
(us). A timeless prophesy. Christ still continues to be the cause to reveal the
thoughts of many hearts.
Look at the prophesy of Isaiah concerning Christ, (and other
prophesies regarding Christ)"For to us a child is born, to us a son
is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God,Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace."Isaiah 9:6
- "Everlasting" Father!! Seven hundred years before Christ's time the
Holy Spirit speaks through the prophet about the coming of the Prince
of Peace who rules time!
Finally, please read this link I found:
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/num8.htm
"This is My Body : Eucharist in the Early Fathers"
written by a Roman Catholic, but should suffice to explain mostly
what we understand by the Holy Sacrament - explaining the Biblical
references about why we understand it as a "perpetual sacrifice" -
because that was the command of the Lord!!
With these (and surely many more) Biblical pointers, and with the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, when the Fathers of the Church put
together the Liturgies of the Holy Church, they reminded us to always
participate in it as though we are present when it is happening. When
we participate, we leave the clutches of time, and reach another
dimension spiritually to be with the Lord where He is - and enjoy
moments in a realm beyond time. Pray that this be our experience!
"the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will
teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John
14:26
Just as the Lord prophesied, The Holy Spirit has continued to teach and grow the
Holy Church over the years (beyond the Biblical times).
Hope this helps. Let us try to move beyond being doubters and be
defenders of the faith of the Holy Church of God.
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
---------------------------------------
--- In IndianOrthodox@yahoogroups.com, Siju george,
wrote:
> Thanks Mr. Mathew Samuel, Albany, NY,you took my doubt in the
right sense.I wanted to know any refernce from bible for these acts.
> Siju George
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/20008
I apologize for not responding to you till now. You had asked about
Biblical references. Over and above the responses of the learned
others, I thought this might be useful as an answer to your query.
What I had first posted is here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/19631
Praise be to the Lord!
Let us examine if any of what I said makes any Biblical sense. Why
does the Holy Church teach us to approach each of the Liturgical
Celebrations with the same awareness and seriousness as if we were
actually present, and the incident 'remembered' is happening right in front of
our eyes? Well, the simple answer is - because it is! We are "caught up" in a
warp beyond our time in our Liturgical celebrations, into a realm where there is
"unceasing" prayer to and worship of the Most Holy Trinity.
I think it is appropriate to begin by trying to understand Christ
apart from time - Christ lives in a dimension before, in, and after
His life span on earth (the life span on earth was just 33 years in
our history from 4 BC till about 29 AD) Listen to His own words as
revealed to John "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord
God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty"
Revelations 1:8
Also while He was on earth He did say -
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was, I am!"
John 8:58
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many"(Mark
14:24). Note that Christ said his blood was poured out for 'many'.
This blood He said is the wine He held in the Cup. There were just 12
people (Apostles) seated with him at that point in time. If it was
just meant for them, He would have not used the word "many". The
blood (and the Body) is meant for "many" not in the room at that
point in time - those not even born then, those who had already
passed on - "Many" reveals a timeless dimension to the Holy Eucharist
as the Lord institutes it.
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of
this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I
will give for the life of the world." John 6:51
Note the words of the Lord. If anyone eats of the bread (that is
Himself) he will live "forever". Another portion of the Holy
Scripture attributing timelessness to the participation in the Holy
Eucharist.
"Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child
is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to
be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many
hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
Luke 2: 34,35 Here Simeon is prophesying to Mary about her
son. "falling and rising of many", "thoughts of many hearts will be
revealed" - these clearly refer to those living then, also "many"
includes those who passed away and those who were yet to be born
(us). A timeless prophesy. Christ still continues to be the cause to reveal the
thoughts of many hearts.
Look at the prophesy of Isaiah concerning Christ, (and other
prophesies regarding Christ)"For to us a child is born, to us a son
is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God,Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace."Isaiah 9:6
- "Everlasting" Father!! Seven hundred years before Christ's time the
Holy Spirit speaks through the prophet about the coming of the Prince
of Peace who rules time!
Finally, please read this link I found:
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/num8.htm
"This is My Body : Eucharist in the Early Fathers"
written by a Roman Catholic, but should suffice to explain mostly
what we understand by the Holy Sacrament - explaining the Biblical
references about why we understand it as a "perpetual sacrifice" -
because that was the command of the Lord!!
With these (and surely many more) Biblical pointers, and with the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, when the Fathers of the Church put
together the Liturgies of the Holy Church, they reminded us to always
participate in it as though we are present when it is happening. When
we participate, we leave the clutches of time, and reach another
dimension spiritually to be with the Lord where He is - and enjoy
moments in a realm beyond time. Pray that this be our experience!
"the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will
teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John
14:26
Just as the Lord prophesied, The Holy Spirit has continued to teach and grow the
Holy Church over the years (beyond the Biblical times).
Hope this helps. Let us try to move beyond being doubters and be
defenders of the faith of the Holy Church of God.
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
---------------------------------------
--- In IndianOrthodox@yahoogroups.com, Siju george,
wrote:
> Thanks Mr. Mathew Samuel, Albany, NY,you took my doubt in the
right sense.I wanted to know any refernce from bible for these acts.
> Siju George
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/20008
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