Small Groups

The Way of the Chosen

Week 8

Trust Jesus All The Time

OPENING PRAYER

Lord, You are the God of peace and love in Whom I place my trust.  Give me a peaceful heart that rests in You and a loving spirit that pours fourth Your love to others.  You are the God of comfort and rest in whom I put my hope.  Give me a heart that abides in You so that Your comfort may stream through me to others who need comfort and strength.  You are the God of hope and joy in whom I stand secure.  Give me a spirit of devotion that worships only You so that I may be a worthy witness that points to Jesus, for in Him is all peace and love and comfort and rest and hope and joy and love.  I place my trust in You Lord.  Amen

“Jesus said to them…’Truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you.’”  Matthew 17:20 

“This final episode of season 3 brings together several plotlines and recounts two beloved New Testament stories: (1) the concern about food and Jesus’ miraculous provision; and (2) the fear over safety, trust in Jesus, and His miraculous calming presence.  Both mind-blowing experiences had the same impact on the hearts and minds of the disciples:  JESUS CAN BE TRUSTED.  And yet, anxiousness and fear remain a common part of our human experience.  We know what Jesus did; we believe the stories.  But we still struggle to believe He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever.  We struggle!  But guess what? God has made provision for that.”  He has given us Himself, His Body and His Blood in the Eucharist.  And as we approach Him on the altar again and again, we will receive His provision and promises over and over again!”  (Excerpt from Page 120)

WATCH THE VIDEO

Chosen Season 3

THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST

“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.  So, Jesus sent Peter and John saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, that we may eat it’…They went…and prepared the Passover.  And when the hour came, He sat at table, and the apostles with Him.  And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’…And He took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them, saying. ‘This is My Body which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of Me.’  And likewise, the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in My Blood.’”  Luke 22:7-20

Catechism of the Catholic Church – “It is Christ Himself, the eternal High Priest of the New Covenant who, acting through the ministry of the priests, offers the Eucharistic sacrifice.  And it is the same Christ, really present under the species of bread and wine, Who is the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice.”  CCC 1410

Pope Francis reflects: “The Eucharistic Celebration is the memorial of Jesus’ Paschal sacrifice, the mystery at the center of salvation.  When we celebrate this sacrament we participate in the Mystery of the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ.  Holy Communion conforms us in a singular and profound way to Christ.  In the Eucharist, Christ is always renewing His gift of Self, which He made on the cross.“  From the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary of Pope Francis.

“The beautiful thing is, each time we come before the Lord, Christ also sees our faith and welcomes us to the table.  So next time we come to the table, let’s recognize we are not only there to be welcomed and nourished by Jesus, but we are also there to be healed of whatever ails us”.   Father David Collete

Before leaving this earth Jesus gave us His beautiful gift of The Sacrament of the Eucharist through Him at the Last Supper, and then through the apostles, and those ordained to follow them.

As early as the second century we have the witness of St. Justin, Martyr for the basic lines of the order of the Eucharistic celebration.  Around the year 155 he wrote, explaining what Christians did:

“On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country

gather in the same place.

The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read,

as much as time permits.

When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes

and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.

Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves…and for all others,

wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions,

and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.

When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.

Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together

to him who presides over the brethren.

He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe,

 through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

and for a considerable time, he gives thanks

 that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.

When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings,

 all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: ‘Amen.’

When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded,

those whom we call deacons give to those present,

 the ‘Eucharisted’ Bread, Wine and Water

and take them to those who are absent.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church-CCC 1345