Yes, I could have been clearer and shown more sensitivity. I get that some people experience profound gender dysphoria, and that this is deeply troubling for them. There are various ways of dealing with that, many of which seem perfectly acceptable. What I would be concerned about would be violent altercation of the body. Hope that helps. My apologies, since I apparently communicated I was belittling another’s suffering. Not in the least.
Now you know why I left Presbyterianism and became an Episcopalian in 1981, the profound experience of the Eucharist, which even has an overtly miraculous dimension for me once in a while.
Thank you for the great article, and, most of all, welcome back! Just started reading "With All The Saints" and I'm enjoying it very much. I really like the C.S. Lewis quote, very real and practical.
I glean this info mostly a couple of podcasts I subscribe to: The Israel Bible and The BEMA Discipleship podcasts. Both are lead by Messianic Jews who do a great job connecting our new covenant faith to it's old covenant foundations.
I found it very profound and informative to discover how Jesus linked the eucharist to the Jewish Passover seder. When a Jew participates during Passover, he believes he is immediately connected with every child of Abraham that has ever been a part of the covenant. It isn't to him some memorial of the exodus or a feeling of covenantal connection. He believes he is actually there with Moses and the children of Israel and is immediately connected with everyone of Abraham's decedents from all time.
Similarly, when we participate in the Lord's supper, we don't just remember the events in the upper room or declare some fidelity to a tradition. Jesus' and the apostles' teachings tell us we are immediately connected through time and space with all who have ever called upon the name of the Lord and are His children. The mysticism of His body and blood makes us all one body and blood ourselves for all eternity.
Thank you Mark for this thoughtful post. I ached when my denomination gave approval amid Covid for what I’ll refer to as “virtual Communion.” I still believe it would have been better to lament our distance from the Table than digitally create one. My question, Mark, is is there a book or bible study you would recommend on this topic of our utterly tangible faith (besides the one you may write)?
I read your post with great interest, but like another reader I was a bit taken back by your correlation between Gnosticism and its disdain of the body with the experience of transgender folks. I like the thought that we are not Gnostic and we value the body, physicality is good and beautiful. Yet when people suffer greatly, and many of our transgender friends suffer greatly, we may be forced to act with cruelty towards our body as a path to healing. We do it with cancer and many other physical ailments. It feels to me a misuse of a beautiful truth.
I was received into the Catholic Church this past Easter. It takes awhile and a lot of fellowship to get there, but, the Eucharist is everything. One small thing that I love that our Parish does is we all stay standing until the last person has received the bread and returned to their pew. Then we all sit as one for contemplation.
It’s hard to finish reading this post when you seem to disregard or belittle the journeys of our gay and transgender loved ones. You imply that those who are LGBTQ are making a choice to disregard their birth gender or live an abundant life in Christ while in a same sex relationship. You mention the violence that transgender people do to their bodies. These people are loved ones to their friends and families. They are more than the category you give them. I think they are much braver than those who choose not to understand their journeys. Do you really believe that anyone, even in this current age and culture, would choose to be transgender or gay if they could decide otherwise? It’s writings like this, opinions like this, and judgements like this that you’ve shared here that are such a turn off for anyone interested in learning what Christianity or Jesus is all about.
No disrespect intended. These folks have a different philosophy, which I happen to disagree with. As I noted, many in our culture share the same assumptions about the relation of mind to body. I just disagree, that’s all.
There is a growing group of those that are detransitioning that you may want to be aware of and hear their stories. They are courageous in their actions. Rainbow Redemption Project is a YouTube channel that highlights how these precious people have returned to their birth sex.
Yes, I could have been clearer and shown more sensitivity. I get that some people experience profound gender dysphoria, and that this is deeply troubling for them. There are various ways of dealing with that, many of which seem perfectly acceptable. What I would be concerned about would be violent altercation of the body. Hope that helps. My apologies, since I apparently communicated I was belittling another’s suffering. Not in the least.
Now you know why I left Presbyterianism and became an Episcopalian in 1981, the profound experience of the Eucharist, which even has an overtly miraculous dimension for me once in a while.
Thank you for the great article, and, most of all, welcome back! Just started reading "With All The Saints" and I'm enjoying it very much. I really like the C.S. Lewis quote, very real and practical.
I glean this info mostly a couple of podcasts I subscribe to: The Israel Bible and The BEMA Discipleship podcasts. Both are lead by Messianic Jews who do a great job connecting our new covenant faith to it's old covenant foundations.
I have not. Sounds like a good read. I'll have to add it to my (already too long) list. ;)
I found it very profound and informative to discover how Jesus linked the eucharist to the Jewish Passover seder. When a Jew participates during Passover, he believes he is immediately connected with every child of Abraham that has ever been a part of the covenant. It isn't to him some memorial of the exodus or a feeling of covenantal connection. He believes he is actually there with Moses and the children of Israel and is immediately connected with everyone of Abraham's decedents from all time.
Similarly, when we participate in the Lord's supper, we don't just remember the events in the upper room or declare some fidelity to a tradition. Jesus' and the apostles' teachings tell us we are immediately connected through time and space with all who have ever called upon the name of the Lord and are His children. The mysticism of His body and blood makes us all one body and blood ourselves for all eternity.
Really interesting connection to Seder. Thx!
A good entry to these ideas about the Last Supper are Brant Pitre's books on the Eucharist
https://a.co/d/8DQdtgz
https://a.co/d/3iu5u9G
They opened my eyes to a deeper way of thinking about the Last Supper and the Eucharist
Hi Nick, this is indeed very interesting. Do you have any reference to back this up?
Have you read "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist" by Brant Pitre? It is excellent and discusses many of the same themes you have mentioned.
Just bought the book, thanks!
Elements of Communion are more than "symbols" in that they are spiritual food.
As regards faith, I substitute the word “faithful” and that moves me from simply an idea or emotion to an action, a daily working out of my faith.
Trump apptd the two justices that overturned roe, Biden diverts millions to planned parenthood for abortions.
Thank you Mark for this thoughtful post. I ached when my denomination gave approval amid Covid for what I’ll refer to as “virtual Communion.” I still believe it would have been better to lament our distance from the Table than digitally create one. My question, Mark, is is there a book or bible study you would recommend on this topic of our utterly tangible faith (besides the one you may write)?
I read your post with great interest, but like another reader I was a bit taken back by your correlation between Gnosticism and its disdain of the body with the experience of transgender folks. I like the thought that we are not Gnostic and we value the body, physicality is good and beautiful. Yet when people suffer greatly, and many of our transgender friends suffer greatly, we may be forced to act with cruelty towards our body as a path to healing. We do it with cancer and many other physical ailments. It feels to me a misuse of a beautiful truth.
I was received into the Catholic Church this past Easter. It takes awhile and a lot of fellowship to get there, but, the Eucharist is everything. One small thing that I love that our Parish does is we all stay standing until the last person has received the bread and returned to their pew. Then we all sit as one for contemplation.
It’s hard to finish reading this post when you seem to disregard or belittle the journeys of our gay and transgender loved ones. You imply that those who are LGBTQ are making a choice to disregard their birth gender or live an abundant life in Christ while in a same sex relationship. You mention the violence that transgender people do to their bodies. These people are loved ones to their friends and families. They are more than the category you give them. I think they are much braver than those who choose not to understand their journeys. Do you really believe that anyone, even in this current age and culture, would choose to be transgender or gay if they could decide otherwise? It’s writings like this, opinions like this, and judgements like this that you’ve shared here that are such a turn off for anyone interested in learning what Christianity or Jesus is all about.
No disrespect intended. These folks have a different philosophy, which I happen to disagree with. As I noted, many in our culture share the same assumptions about the relation of mind to body. I just disagree, that’s all.
There is a growing group of those that are detransitioning that you may want to be aware of and hear their stories. They are courageous in their actions. Rainbow Redemption Project is a YouTube channel that highlights how these precious people have returned to their birth sex.