Would be absolutely thrilled if they banned TikTok outright. When it comes to Social Media, I'm an absolute puritanical monarchist -- just shut it all down, and let's move on with our lives :)
I think with the Eucharist we can often start too intensely literal. I think Christ's admonition to have faith like children is relevant here. And then of course we can go to John 6 and all the rest, when so many found the teaching too hard to believe, even with Christ saying so in front of them. But first, perhaps the poetry is more accessible. I'll quote a letter of Tolkien that he wrote to his son:
"Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament. . . . There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death: by the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste—or foretaste—of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man’s heart desires."
I feel the same way! The golden days of Instagram when we used preset filters to show off our shoes and food are long past.
As far as the Real Presence goes, I so want it to be true. But one passage in Our Anglican Heritage gave me pause. I can't find the quote right now, but the general idea was that if Christ's body is everywhere in a thousand different locations, it undermines the fact that His body was like ours. (i.e. fixed in location) Essentially, it makes Him only wholly divine, and not wholly human, as well. The author also argued that it makes His sacrifice on the cross incomplete and adoration of the elements is akin to idolatry. But then I read John 6 and see how difficult it was for the disciples to understand Jesus' teaching, and I wrestle with the fact that this is how it's supposed to be; I'm not supposed to understand everything. Like Peter, I'm asking, "Where would I go, Lord?" Of course, I go after Jesus...but, in this particular issue, I'm struggling to know where, exactly, He is.
Well if it's any consolation, you are certainly not alone! It is a discussion that has been happening since the earliest days of Christianity. The Catholic Church affirms Christ as "fully human, fully divine." One of the earliest heresies was the struggle to accept that Christ was in fact FULLY human (not Spirit alone), so this need to affirm his humanity is completely understood. His double nature is complete and whole.
Surely the fact of the Resurrection, assumed into Heaven, fully human, fully divine, completes the narrative of his human life (and ultimately our own)? Even Christ's born into a manger - a feeding trough - hints at the Eucharist. While the Israelites received 'manna from heaven' - this bread could only sustain them so long - while the literal meeting of physical matter with spiritual reality in the Eucharist fulfills the Jewish longing for bread that will continually feed, water that will truly quench thirst. We accept Christ's divine nature in all other ways after His resurrection - don't we think He can be fully present to us? Don't we think He is accessible in prayer, that He is one with God the Father? Why suddenly does his human self limit Him in this way? God of course can be fully present, physically, spiritually, in the Eucharist without lessening his human life.
I'm sure St. John Henry Newman, who of course was a Great Anglican before he was a Great Catholic, put it all much better than me! I'm sure he would be a great person to add to your list.
Would be absolutely thrilled if they banned TikTok outright. When it comes to Social Media, I'm an absolute puritanical monarchist -- just shut it all down, and let's move on with our lives :)
Ah, here for the Eucharist discussions!
I think with the Eucharist we can often start too intensely literal. I think Christ's admonition to have faith like children is relevant here. And then of course we can go to John 6 and all the rest, when so many found the teaching too hard to believe, even with Christ saying so in front of them. But first, perhaps the poetry is more accessible. I'll quote a letter of Tolkien that he wrote to his son:
"Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament. . . . There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death: by the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste—or foretaste—of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man’s heart desires."
I feel the same way! The golden days of Instagram when we used preset filters to show off our shoes and food are long past.
As far as the Real Presence goes, I so want it to be true. But one passage in Our Anglican Heritage gave me pause. I can't find the quote right now, but the general idea was that if Christ's body is everywhere in a thousand different locations, it undermines the fact that His body was like ours. (i.e. fixed in location) Essentially, it makes Him only wholly divine, and not wholly human, as well. The author also argued that it makes His sacrifice on the cross incomplete and adoration of the elements is akin to idolatry. But then I read John 6 and see how difficult it was for the disciples to understand Jesus' teaching, and I wrestle with the fact that this is how it's supposed to be; I'm not supposed to understand everything. Like Peter, I'm asking, "Where would I go, Lord?" Of course, I go after Jesus...but, in this particular issue, I'm struggling to know where, exactly, He is.
Well if it's any consolation, you are certainly not alone! It is a discussion that has been happening since the earliest days of Christianity. The Catholic Church affirms Christ as "fully human, fully divine." One of the earliest heresies was the struggle to accept that Christ was in fact FULLY human (not Spirit alone), so this need to affirm his humanity is completely understood. His double nature is complete and whole.
Surely the fact of the Resurrection, assumed into Heaven, fully human, fully divine, completes the narrative of his human life (and ultimately our own)? Even Christ's born into a manger - a feeding trough - hints at the Eucharist. While the Israelites received 'manna from heaven' - this bread could only sustain them so long - while the literal meeting of physical matter with spiritual reality in the Eucharist fulfills the Jewish longing for bread that will continually feed, water that will truly quench thirst. We accept Christ's divine nature in all other ways after His resurrection - don't we think He can be fully present to us? Don't we think He is accessible in prayer, that He is one with God the Father? Why suddenly does his human self limit Him in this way? God of course can be fully present, physically, spiritually, in the Eucharist without lessening his human life.
Well, when you put it like that! ❤️
The image of Jesus in the manger...that hits home.
I'm sure St. John Henry Newman, who of course was a Great Anglican before he was a Great Catholic, put it all much better than me! I'm sure he would be a great person to add to your list.
https://www.cardinaljohnhenrynewman.com/the-eucharistic-presence/
Oh, yes, his name keeps coming up. Thank you, Katie!
Can’t wait for The Bluestockings!