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We continue our examination of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Fr. Mike emphasizes that every element of Christ’s passion, the whole thing, is one, single sacrifice, and when we celebrate the Mass, we are participating in that same sacrifice. He also reiterates that the Eucharist is both a noun and a verb. It “re-presents” the sacrifice of the Cross. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1362-1386.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/Fq7tcFmpZZA
Together with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Fr. Mike takes us back to the Book of Genesis, the sacrifices of Cain and Abel, and the Book of Exodus, the story of Moses and Pharaoh. He emphasizes that the point of freedom in life is to be led to the freedom to worship God and that it matters to God that we freely choose to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1356-1361.
Celebrating the sacrament of the Eucharist has been part of the Tradition of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years. Fr. Mike unpacks the citation from St. Justin Martyr’s First Apology, which beautifully describes the structure of the Mass in AD 155 and captures how the Early Church had the same understanding of the Eucharist as we do today. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1341-1347.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/uN585olka7I
Fr. Mike breaks down the various ways the Eucharist fulfills the sacrifices of bread and wine of the Old Covenant and explains why the Eucharist is central to God’s plan of salvation. We learn that the Eucharist is a pledge of God’s love for each one of us and a tangible reminder that Jesus is always with us. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1333-1340.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/7aDiPr-R4gc
The sacrament of the Eucharist has many different names, and “each name evokes certain aspects of it.” Fr. Mike explains the meaning behind this sacrament’s various titles, including; thanksgiving to God, the Lord’s Supper, Breaking of Bread, the Holy Sacrifice, Holy Mass, and others. All the names of this sacrament ultimately remind us that the Eucharist is both a noun and a verb. It is the Son’s great sacrifice to the Father and Jesus Christ himself. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1328-1332.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/xXoaD6HWLN8
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” Today, we begin our journey into the mystery of the Eucharist. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the Eucharist is particularly unique in relation to the other sacraments because it unites us to the heavenly liturgy and draws us into communion with God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1322-1327.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/HD1ALVi2pAA
The Catechism introduces the seven sacraments that Christ offers the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The Catechism highlights the fact that the sacraments are “by the Church” because the Church is “Christ’s action at work”, and they are “for the Church” because they “manifest and communicate to men…the mystery of communion with the God who is love.” Fr. Mike focuses on the fact that while ministerial priests administer many of the sacraments, their priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood, into which all of the baptized are ordained. Today’s readings are from Catechism paragraphs 1113-1121.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/34pSVZxRW8M
Either It is What It is or It Isn’t
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
April 22 – 23, 2023
In the Gospel, there are many points. So, start with the minor ones and then go on to the big ones. Jesus taught us how to study Scripture. He also taught us what we must do before Mass. What must we do before Mass? A famous word from one of the great spiritual directors is “Shut-Up!” That’s because every time the apostles talked about the Bible, they got it wrong. Every time our Lord asked them a question, they got it wrong. The apostles were discussing Scripture one day while in Jerusalem and when our Lord showed up, He asked them, “What are you doing?” They said, “Talking about Scripture.” What did He tell them? “You got it wrong!” Then, for the better part of two hours, He taught them Scripture, because He is Scripture. And in the presence of God, they listened. He explained to them the meaning of the Bible. Scripture study is not people sitting around a table and asking, “What do you think this is?” It’s not that. The Church teaches what Scripture is . . . not what we’d like it to be. It’s a lot more complicated than just reading a book and saying, “Oh yeah. I can do that.” You have to listen to the experts.
What resulted from the apostles’ time with Jesus? During the Breaking of Bread (the Mass), their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. This is our faith. Jesus is physically present on the altar and at the altar during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What happens when we see our Lord in the Breaking of Bread during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? The same as what happened to two of Jesus’ disciples as they were going to Emmaus which was near Jerusalem. They were tired, but in the middle of the night they walked seven miles, most of it uphill. Now most people are afraid to go outside at night even though we have great law enforcement. Back then, there was no 911. And the Roman soldiers didn’t patrol at night. So, you were on your own . . . good luck! But the disciples were no longer tired. Instead, they were filled with joy and couldn’t wait to tell people, “We have seen the Lord. We recognized Him in the Breaking of Bread.”
This is what we preach for conversion. Transubstantiation and the Real Presence of our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. This is our Faith. This is what we preach. This is what brings people to church. And this is how we get converts to the Faith. A good friend of mine, a Catholic priest, took Philosophy 101. He said that during the first week of class they learned that “a thing is what it is or it isn’t.” There is no in-between. Would you want to eat a slightly poisonous salad? Would you want to get slightly sick on Listeria? No. Either the food is good or it’s not. Either it is or it isn’t. A wrench is a wrench or it’s not. You can’t use a pencil as a wrench. It won’t work. So, either you believe what Scripture says or you don’t.
Christ is present in the Eucharist. His true Real Presence is what draws people to the Faith. We recognize Him with the eyes of faith and intellect. Sometimes it affects the whole body . . . sometimes not. But we recognize Him. In church, everything is pointed to the Real Presence. That’s why we kneel, stand, and genuflect. Some people rather blasphemously call it Catholic aerobics – up and down, up and down. By the way, do you know why we stand for the Gospel? We stand out of respect for the Word of God because the Gospel contains the actual words of Christ. So, we stand out of respect for His words, and we pray with our hearts. This is what we proclaim. This is what we profess. And this is what we teach. Paul came to that conclusion. Paul taught people, and he admonished them that “Whoever eats and drinks the body of Christ unworthily is guilty of His death.” If it’s just a symbol or just a community builder as some blasphemous people say, how can we be convicted of His death? How can we be like Judas and be guilty of His death? If His Body and Blood is just a symbol, then what’s the big deal?
So, this is what we believe. This is what we profess. And this is what we tell people. This is the good news. What happened to the apostles and what happened to the two disciples enroute to Emmaus, is the same joy and the same Presence we have before us.
How will you apply this message to your life? _______________________________
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” then “Sermon Notes.” On a cell phone: click on “Blog” then “Menu” and then “Categories.” Sermon Notes are also available on the church Facebook page at facebook.com/ola.catholic.church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”
Why do less than 30% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence? It seems like many have forgotten that Jesus gave his flesh for the life of the world.
Today, Fr. Mike reminds us of the gift of the Eucharist and shares the way it transformed his own life. It is the heart of our faith, our spiritual nourishment, the bread that we live for, and the teaching worth dying for.
Meet Fr. Mike Schmitz:
Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He is a presenter in Ascension’s Chosen, Altaration, and The 99 programs, and has a channel on Ascension Presents. He is also the host of the Ascension podcast The Bible in a Year.
You may have heard that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, but have you really heard those words? You may have been in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, but have you really seen him in the Eucharist?
Today, Fr. Mike challenges us to take Jesus at His word (John 6:6) and to grow in our faith in His real presence, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist!