Monday, August 16, 2010

Musings (Matthew 26:14-16)




THIS IS MY BODY

TAKE AND EAT


THIS IS MY BLOOD
TAKE AND DRINK


SIMPLE STATEMENTS


BUT SCHOLARS HAVE ARGUED


FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS
AS TO THEIR MEANING
AND HOW


WITNESS THE SCHOLAR’S DEBATE


ROMAN CATHOLIC: SACRIFICE; TRANSUBSTANTIATION



EASTERN CHRISTIANITY: TRUE SACRIFICE AND OBJECTIVE PRESENCE BUT PIOUS SILENCE ON THE PARTICULARS



ANGLICANS/EPISCOPALIANS: REAL PRESENCE WITH OPINION



LUTHERANS - THE SACRAMENTAL UNION: "IN, WITH, AND UNDER THE FORMS"



METHODISM - REAL PRESENCE AS "HOLY MYSTERY"



CALVINIST REFORMED: SPIRITUAL FEEDING, "PNEUMATIC" PRESENCE


ZWINGLIAN REFORMED: NO REAL PRESENCE



ET CETERA ET CETERA ETCETERA


WHY SHOULD IT TAKE A PHD TO UNDERSTAND GOD


GOD HAS SAID IT
I BELIEVE IN GOD
OR OTHERWISE
NOTHING MAKES SENSE


I LEAN MORE TO THE EASTERN CHURCH
TO THE INDWELLING OF GOD WITHIN ME


IN THE JEWISH TRADITIONAL ANIMAL SACRIFICES
PART OF THE ANIMAL WENT TO THE PRIEST
PART WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE
PART WAS GIVEN TO THE DONOR
FOR A FEAST IN HONOR OF THE SACRIFICE


IT WAS THOUGHT
THAT GOD ENTERED
INTO THE SACRIFICE
BECAME ONE WITH THE SACRIFICE



SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE
ATE THE SANCTIFIED GIFT
THEY FELT THEY WERE PARTAKING
OF GOD



NOT A STRANGE IDEA
IN THAT PERIOD OF HISTORY
IT WAS A COMMON THING
THIS GOD MEAL IN ANCIENT TIMES


THAT TAKING GOD
WITHIN THEMSELVES
THEY BECAME GOD-LIKE

SINCE GOD CANNOT BE DIVIDED
THEY BECAME OF GOD

BECAME AS WITH ONE NATURE
ALL THE FELLOW COMMUNICANTS
BECAME AS ONE

WALKING IN THE STRENGTH
OF THAT MEAL
FORTY DAYS







FRANK A VOLLMER

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