St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church

THE CHURCH by YDisciple

Community Part 2

By Melissa Terwey

The Acts of the Apostles gives us something similar to a headline as it describes the first century church: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).

What is really special is that a headline accurately describing the Catholic Church today would read the same way! In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is divided into 4 parts:

1) The Profession of Faith (apostles’ teaching);

2) The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (breaking of the bread);

3) Life in Christ (fellowship); and

 4) Christian Prayer (prayers).

In this session we are going to focus on what the Church calls the source and summit of our faith:  The Eucharist (the breaking of bread).

Let's begin with a Prayer:

Jesus, You tell us that unless we eat Your flesh and drink Your blood, we will have no life in us. But if we eat Your flesh and drink Your blood we will have eternal life and You will raise us up at the last day. We pray for the faith to truly believe in Your real presence and to grow in our practice of receiving You at Mass and adoring You in the Blessed Sacrament.  Amen.

Today's Lesson Scripture:

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

—Acts 2:41-47

Click on the photo and watch this video segment at formed.org with Ennie Hickman.

In this segment we learn the four areas in which the people of the early Church devoted themselves. The first is the apostle’s teaching. The apostle’s teaching IS the teaching of Jesus.

Jesus wanted to give the world the truth. He spent a lot of time with the Apostles, revealing to them teachings that they were to bring to others.

He says in John 8:31-32:  “If you live according to my teaching, you are truly my disciples; then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

In fact, after He rose from the dead, He spent an additional forty days with them to ensure that they would continue His teaching and build His Church. He promised them the Holy Spirit and said in John 16:13: “When he comes, however, being the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”

And in Matthew 28:19-20, He commissioned the Apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit, to go and teach all that He had taught them: “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to carry out everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, til the close of the age.”

**One of the most important teachings of the Apostles is Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist.

In the video we learn that when we are missing from the table—the Mass—we diminish the dynamic of the church family. In other words, our absence affects others.

Below is a 6 minute video about the Miracle of Lanciano Italy. Check it out!

Let's keep each other in mind as we continue our week and when we watch Mass Online!

Ending prayer -

Say a Hail Mary and ask for Mary's intercession that we may be as devoted a disciple as she is.