i Catholic
What’s Showbread?
One of the eternal and essential truths evident in the Bible is that God is, was and continues today, His vigilance of influence in His relationship and Personal intervention into the lives of His humanity.
by sharing the Catholic understanding of just what these bible reference verses mean, both when recorded and now in our lives today..
More than any other evidence of God’s Infinite love for Humanity and God’s unheralded Desire for a personal relationship with us, His Created humanity is God’s Gift of HIMSELF in Catholic Holy Communion. This abasement, of this Sacrifice is FAR GREATER than the Incarnation, and even exceeds the unphantomable Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ to effect our “Redemption.” WHY?
The answer lies in the degree of Sacrifice and the intended purpose for such a Sacrifice. By becoming “man-God” and then Dying and Rising from the Dead, causing our redemption, Jesus knew that He would be returning to His Rightful place in Heaven. The Incarnation, and Passion of Christ had as it’s primary purpose; “Our Redemption,” which permitted heaven to once again become a POSSIBILITY for humanity. Heaven had been blocked by the sins of our First Parents Adam and Eve, [“Original Sin”] so there was NO Possible ACCESS to God after death. … Christ Redemption allowed God ‘s humanity to once again, prove there love for Him, by cooperating with Christ plan for our personal salvation.
In the Eucharist Christ Sacrifice is both Greater and Prolonged. Jesus assumes the appearance of Bread and Wine; mere inanimate objects, completely immobile, and unable to communicate. Jesus is daily ignored, rejected, ridiculed and subject to the whims of humanity, allowing Himself even to be subject to His Priest. His Presence seems indefensible, and the reality of His Divine Presence is unimaginable; and therefore “impossible.” But that is because humanity often fails to understands the depth of God Love for us His Created. … Many chose to forget that God can do anything “good,” and ignore that “if true,” Eucharist would be the Greatest Possible Good the World can experience. And so it is! … WHY?
Because “Redemption is NOT Salvation. Indeed, salvation would be meaningless without Redemption, because access to heaven would still be denied. … Jesus chooses freely to remain here with us, to provide the Supernatural Sacramental Graces necessary for us to endure our “Daily Crosses,” Obey His Commandments, and humbly follow the Teaching and guidance of His Catholic Church Leaders, all to facilitate the possibility of us cooperating with The Divine plan for our personal salvation. God cannot send us to either Hell or Heaven without our permission! Matt.28 : 19 to 20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.“
Isaiah 43: 7, 21 “every one who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” “the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”
Romans 14: 11 ‘for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
1Pet.1: 7“so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Gal.2: 16yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. [“Works of the law” make reference to the unperfected works commanded by the Jewish leaders bundled to the Commandments; now exceeding 300 in number] Jas.2: -14-26 “ What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some one will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.”
Heb. 6: 10“For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do“.
Rom.13: 11
Eph.1: 13“In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit“, [The Gospel does not end with Christ Death; rather it began with Christ Death and Resurrection.]
Eph.6: 17 ““And take the helmet of salvation
Phil.2: 12“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Take Up your Cross and Follow Me
Phil.2: 8 “Luke.9 :23 And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Mark.8: 34 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Luke.9: 23And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke.14: 7 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Matt.5: 19“Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “ Matt.19: 17 “And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
No we can’t work our way to heaven, but our God is a Jealous God; and demands that we prove our love of Him, and give Him thanks and Glory through our good actions.
So what does Showbread; Bread of Presence; Holy Bread lead to in the New Testament?
Catholic Holy Communion is the greatest source of God’s grace on planet earth. It is not an overstatement to proclaim, “Catholic Holy Communion” is a foretaste of Heaven on earth!
resides Jesus Christ HimselfNot ONLY a sign, not ONLY a Symbol; but the very REAL, alive Glorified Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in Person., who gives Himself to us in what appears to the human senses as mere “bread and wine,” but which FIVE authors of the New Testament proclaim [ FOUR of them unto there gruesome death], as the “very Real Glorified and Risen Christ..” Ones Faith , is truly tested. “believe or not to believe,“ is the challenge set before us by Christ Himself. John. 20: 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” AMEN!
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul “Do this in Memory of Me.” [Luke 22:19] T
The transformation of what remains after the “Transubstanuation” [God Miracle of Love], still has the appearance of “bread and wine” [“called, the accidents”] while actually being now the Real Jesus Christ. … It is “these accidents,” these “look like” bread and wine, while being something else: Jesus Christ Himself, that have there origin in the Showbread; bread of Presence; Holy Bread.
This belief was immediately accepted, understood and put into practice by Jewish Apostles who were familiar with the Old Testament, and God ‘s provincial Manna , and God’s “Bread of Presence,“ also called “Showbread”, and “holy Bread.” The tie -in by Christ of the Passover Meal to introduce the Eucharist [meaning “thanksgiving”] gave further evidence to them, of God’s clear future Intent.
We spoke earlier about the OT leading to the NT. One bit of evidence of this fact is the OT use of priest, by God, and there particular responsibilities regarding Worship, offering Sacrifice and being Intercessors for the forgiveness of sins. ALL of these actions are maintained and perfected by Christ priest [Popes and bishops included] in the NT..
August 11th, 2009 by Sonija Corbitt
“What is it?” the Israelites asked, when it appeared on the wilderness floor, and so they named it “manna,” meaning “What?” (Ex. 16:14-31). Manna was heavenly bread miraculously provided by God to nourish the Israelites during their sentence of 40 years wandering in the wilderness. It appeared after the morning dew and melted with the sun. It was small, round, fine as frost, tasted like wafers made with honey, and could be boiled, baked, or made into cakes. Wisdom 16:20 Apparently it was nutritionally balanced, as it kept them healthy for 40 years. The Israelites were to gather only enough to meet their need for the day, except the Sabbath, before which they were to gather enough for two days; any excess gathered would spoil.
In the tabernacle sanctuary, but outside the Holy of Holies was a gold table, set to the right, that held two stacks of six loaves of flatbread, one for each tribe of Israel. This bread was a reminder of God’s perpetual provision, and it was a communal offering rather than a sacrificial one; because the bread belonged to God, it was to be eaten by the priests every Sabbath “in the sacred place,” the sanctuary, as they replaced the previous week’s bread with fresh each week. Along with the bread, there were also offerings of wine and oil. This was to be an everlasting observance.
The name of this bread is remarkable. Some translations call it “showbread,” some the “loaves of setting forth,” from which the name “loaves of proposition” comes; but in Hebrew, it literally means bread of the face [of God], or bread of the presence. It was bread where God was presentThe manna and bread of the presence conveyed a single theme: God was with His people in the bread, feeding and providing for them. Both were to be an eternal covenant; a memorial pot of manna was included in the ark within the holy of holies, and the bread of the presence was also to perpetually be in the tabernacle. Symbolic of God’s enduring provision for His people, manna showed God’s sweetness to the people (Wisdom 16:21), but there was another reason He miraculously furnished it. Moses explained to them, “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Notice He did not say man “could not,” though that is certainly true, because He said man “shall not” live by bread alone. God will not allow man to live only in the physical realm, and with these words, words Jesus repeated (Matthew 4:4), He was preparing us for something wondrous.
“It is to be an everlasting covenant,” the Lord commanded Moses, and thousands of years later One came who stunned the religious leaders of the time by saying, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35) provoking a raging scandal that continues sifting God’s people today. It is in the context of the Old Testament bread that this statement must be understood, as Jesus pointed out. The bread of the earth, of wheat and bran, and even the heavenly bread of the Old Testament manna, gave physical nourishment and life, but the bread that Jesus is, gives life that is spiritual, for “the flesh profits nothing” (6:63). Perceiving how literally Jesus was speaking, many true disciples ceased to follow, turning away from the bread that would nourish them and tragically bringing to pass Jesus’ warning that “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” This is a fearful statement, for it was the statement that divided the sheep from the goats, those who would continue to follow and those who ceased following, but it was not spoken as a punishment, merely a statement of fact: this life is in Christ; when one ceases to follow Him, one ceases to be connected to that life. “These words that I speak,” he said, the words proceeding from the mouth of God, by which we must live, “are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:64). Despite this assurance, “some did not believe,” and Jesus claimed that they, in fact, could not believe what the Catholic Church teaches, that Jesus is present in the Eucharistic Bread of the Presence, feeding us with Himself in scandalous humility, unless the Lord granted that they should.
In the New Testament we learn from Jesus that manna was an intimation of Himself, a whisper of His coming to assume responsibility for the souls of men (John 6). He is the life-giving Bread of whom we are instructed to eat, the sustenance of the soul. When the people inferred that He could give them spirit-bread just as their fathers ate manna in the wilderness, they asked of Him, “Give us this bread always” (John 6:34), and Jesus truly answered their prayer, fulfilling the command that this Presence Bread feed and exist forever. On the night of His Passion, He instituted the eternal Eucharist: Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples saying, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Could the twelve disciples have doubted what Jesus was referring to, given their familiarity with the twelve loaves of Presence Bread provided daily in the temple?
To Satan himself, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Man’s soul is sustained, not by rye or pumpernickel, but by the words of God’s mouth. Interestingly, “word” in Hebrew is literally “promise,” meaning, man shall live by God’s promise(s). “I AM the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever . . .”
(John 6:51; emphasis mine). These words are His promise. The fulfillment and interpretation of all Old Testament things, Jesus is present, He feeds us; we can live forever with God by becoming one with, eating, this Bread of the Presence.” END
The first point of biblical interest is that there are THREE synonymous NAMES for Showbread.
Showbread: Neh. 10:33, 1 Chr. 9: 22-34, and 1 Chr.28:9-19 are examples.
Bread of Presence: Exo. 25: 30, Num. 4:7, 1 Sam.21:6, Heb. Chapter 9 are examples
Holy Bread: Exo. 29:34, Lev. 21:6, 1 Sam. 21:4, 6 are examples
Showbread
The Origin of the “holy Bread” seems to be in the time of Moses and God’s Instruction for the ‘Ark of the Covenant” in Exodus chapters 25 to 29.
Neh.10: 33
OT Times
When these words were written, the Jewish nation had just been saved by Yahweh God [through Moses] form the Egyptian Captors. They were salves, now they were free. The Jews were humbled by God in there 40 years of training and punishment and now God was introducing to them Holyday’s, and celebrations. God also introduced the Sabbath, [the third Commandment] and the priest role in the remission of there sins.
Present Times
In the present times we find God’s desire for the Sabbath, for holydays and for the use of priest as necessary elements for the forgiveness of sins both maintained and perfected. This is evidence that God does not change, and God remains both Present and in charge. God’s Divine Presence in a way mirrors the “Exodus,” in that in the Present time God is in Process of offering Salvation, hoping to assist and direct us through His manifold Supernatural Sacramental Graces, most especially Holy Eucharist and Confession, available validly and licitly ONLY in Christ Catholic Church.
1 Chr. 9: 22-34 “1] So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD[2] house of the tent, as guardsThe gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south; and their kinsmen who were in their villages were obliged to come in every seven days, from time to time, to be with these; for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge of the chambers and the treasures of the house of God. And they lodged round about the house of God; for upon them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning. Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. Others of them were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices, [3] and Mattithi’ah, one of the Levites, the first-born of Shallum the Ko’rahite, was in charge of making the . flat cakes32Also some of their kinsmen of the Ko’hathites had charge of the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath. “
[1] We see here evidence of “priest” as gate keepers, “in charge of the house of the Lord.” Again I point out: God does not change. If we look to the past, we see it’s bearing on the present and the future; but now Perfected by Jesus. Today’s Priest, Bishops and Pope are Christ “NT Priest.”
Present Times
[1] To associate these “gate-keepers” with our Popes and Bishops is an easy task. In Matt. 16:15-19, and explicitly in v. 19, we find Jesus giving “ the keys to the gates of heaven” to Saint Pater and subsequent Popes. [Had to include his successors in order to fulfill Matt. 28:19-20 quoted above.]
OT Times
[2] We note that it was seen as necessary to post guards to protect God’s house. This was because of the high value of what was inside, both materially and Spiritually.
Present Times
The application for today is far broader. It extends beyond the necessity of physical protection of churches, houses of the Lord God, and extends to defense of Theology, Philosophy, Church Doctrines, Dogmas, Tradition and practices and very significantly the only place to get the Proper Understanding of God‘s Holy Writ.
There are a GREAT many wolfs in sheep’s clothing within and outside of the Catholic Church. Matt.10: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt.7; 21 “Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
OT Times
[3] We take note that it is the priestly class guarding God’s home, preparing the Temple, and making the “flatbread” used for the twelve loafs of the “bread of Presence.”
The Eucharistic bread is also “flat” [unleavened] bread.] And it nearly always is made by Catholic Religious Communities. This bread too is “bread of Presence,” but NOW PERFECTED by Jesus and actually becomes Jesus Christ Himself. … Now [dare I say; “not only the Spirit of God“]; but Really Jesus in Person, God Himself alive in our midst!
1 Chr. 28: 9-19 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; [1] for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. Take heed now, [2] for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuaryThen David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the LORD, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the LORD; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the LORD, the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstands and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service, the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables, and pure gold for the forks, the basins, and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. [3]
OT Times
[1] Again we see that God is unchangeable. Mt. 10: 26-27 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops.” “If you seek him, he will be found by you; “ While there are many ways to encounter Christ; the surest way is to actually desire too discover God. God cannot deny Himself to anyone with a open mind, and earnest heart who seeks Him.
Present Times
This is much more difficult in the present times because of the Heretic, Martin Luther, Calvin and all those in the present times founding new churches based there own understanding of God’s holy Word.
There can logically be only ONE TRUTH for every issue. Only One!And on matters of Faith and Morals; Christ Himself has seen fit to place this Treasure of Great Value, in His Catholic Church. [John 14: 16-17, John 17: 14:19]. Make no mistake: This is why God founded just the One New Church; One new Faith. Eph. 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [SINGULAR] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; [SINGULAR in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. … Eph. 4: 4 “There is one body [One Church] and one Spirit, [One set of beliefs] just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, [One God] one faith, [One set of doctrine and dogma] one baptism,[ By water in the Trinity] one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
“This last verse means, due to sins of the founder-heretics who abandoned God, started there own religions in competition the Gods given Faith; denied the Infallibility of God very Word, Covenant and promises [2 Tim 3:16-17] that grace, Wisdom, Understanding , all controlled and measured out by God, are limited [but sufficient for accepting God’s plan for our salvation], are limited by God who do not accept the One True Faith; the One True Christian Religion; Cat holism. Eph.4: they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart; 1 Cor. 2: 7,13 “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit” James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.”
OT Times
[2] “for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary;”
In the time, this was written it had multiple meanings, and understandings. 1. We all bear a responsibility to support with our money and our God given talents, our churches. 2. God has chosen us for certain ministries by the talents God has given us to share. 3. We have a moral responsibility to use our bodies in moral ways.
Present Times
Same as the OT times, but we might add the obligation to try at least to maintain our heath.
OT Times
[3] “
Once again we see that God does not change. Additionally we can see here how Personally God desires His Role in our lives to be.. We can see from the instructions God gave to Moses how exactly the Ark was to be built. [Exodus chapters 25 to 29] This is the same personal involvement that is given to David who is clearly being told as was Moses: “Do it My Way!” This ought to give pause to those who carelessly, and dangerously ask the question: “Does God really care what church we chose; or how we practice our faith; or what we chose to accept or reject from the Bible”? Yea! God REALLY does care, and it REALLY does matter. By God’s testimony of how to build His Ark and His Temple [a rather “insignificant” matter for many of us] we ought to be able to grasp how much more Important, Significant, and Critical God views our Obedience to How He God wants us to Worship Him. The OT is replete with frequent rebukes to the Jewish Nation precisely because they chose to worship gods of there own choosing; and in ways God did not specify and approve off. And they were always punished for doing so.
Present Times
Friends God does not change. There are about 100 references in the NT for “The Church,” or “One Church.” The Protestant faiths are built on QUICKSAND, not ROCK. Today’s Protestants do not bear the same degree of guilt as there founders, because the founders ought to have know better as they were educated in Christ One Church; [Heb. 6: 4-10] while today’s Protestants, even with there decreased culpability, pay a penalty with weakened understanding, less wisdom, fewer graces as they are only doing as they are taught. 2 Tim. 4: 3-5 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. [God obviously foresaw the advent of Protestantism]. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
Keep in mind that when these words were written and placed into the Bible; the ONLY Christian Church in existence was the Christian Church known today as the Catholic Church. This is not simply a Catholic position; it is historically provable FACT.
Historically provable FACT: When the OT Books were collected to be included in the Bible; when the entire New Testament was written [by men known today to have been the First Catholic], there was as God Desired ONLY His One Church… the now 2,000 year old Catholic Church founded by Jesus Himself[Matt. 16:15-19]
2Chr.2: 4 “Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the continual offering of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained for ever for Israel.
OT Times
One can see here the purpose of the Showbread was 1. “to make God Present to His Chosen People.” [Spiritually]. 2. To give God praise and Worship. 3. To establish both rituals of Worship, and specify “days of Worship.” [The Third Commandment.] Of note was that this holy bread could [lawfully] be consumed only by the Priestly class.
Present Times
Again we see the perfection of what was and what is. God is no longer Present JUST in Spirit! No, God Himself in now Present in His Catholic Churches visibly [or at least OUGHT TO BE] both for Worship and Supernatural Grace through Catholic Holy Communion. We see also were the Church derives her practices of Sunday and Holyday Worship.
2 Chr. 13: 10-12 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. [1] We have priests ministering to the LORD who are sons of Aaron, and Levites for their service.set out the showbread on the table of pure gold, and care for the golden lampstand that its lamps may burn every evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him. [2] .”
OT Times
[1] The priest act as Intercessors on behalf of the people. They have ritual responsibilities assigned indirectly by God. The priest were completely responsible for the Showbread.
[2] One of the important roles given to the priest was “to accuse them of there sins.” To make evident to them there transgressions, and shortcomings. And to remind them that either we are in charge; or God is in charge. It can’t be both way’s.
Present Times
[1] Today’s priest have even a greater role. While Eucharist is From God, Is God, and offered to God; God’s plan has this miracle take place only through the hands of His Catholic Priest.
[2] These days the CC takes a real verbal beating for holding to Her positions on Faith and Moral Issues. But in truth, it’s not an option. Either we hear and obey God or pay the consequences. There are fewer by far, options in the practice of ones faith, than many of us willingly admit. Both Catholics and Protestants.
Bread of Presence
Exod.25: 30 And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me always.
In the Present Times this Command is fulfilled in the CC, in the Tabernacle. [Which is why “the tabernacle MUST be visible to All, ALL of the time.”]
Num.4: 7“And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put upon it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offeringthe continual bread also shall be on it;”
In the Present Times we see the origin of the use of BREAD and Wine comes from OT Worship practices. Again in the Present Times we see that these too have been perfected; and now become the Real Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Himself, in His Glorified Body.
1Sam.21: 6 “So the priest gave him the holy bread; [Speaking of future King Davis when he was fleeing King Saul who sought out of jealously to kill him] for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.” Mark.2: 23 -28 “One sabbath he [Jesus] was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abi’athar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.”
In the Present Times we too at times forget that the Sabbath is given to humanity as an opportunity to Worship God. It ought not to focus on fellowship and community; rather its focus ought to be first and foremost on God and for God. Fellowship and community ought to be practiced as God desires; but it should NEVER compete with Divine Worship.
Heb.9: 1-38 the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; [The Commandments]
above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the outer tent is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various ablutions, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems themfrom the transgressions under the first covenant.”
For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Hence even the first covenant was not ratified without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than theseFor Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own**; for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
** Christ can [and does only die one time] In The Eucharist, Christ Pascal Sacrifice is RE-PRESENTED; NOT “represented“. Christ is made present time and time again in His Risen and Glorified Body. And it is Christ Risen Glorified Body [not His pre-death carnal body] that we consume in Catholic holy Communion.
Holy Bread
Exod.29: 34“And if any of the flesh for the ordination, or of the bread, remain until the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire; it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.
In the Present Times how much truer is the now Bread [and Wine] Perfected by Transubstanuation, The Miracle of Love, worthy of being called “Holy Bread,” and “Bread of Presence.” What an awesome God we have! Amen!
Lev.21: 6 They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God; for they offer the offerings by fire to the LORD, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. [8] You shall consecrate him, for he offers the bread of your God; he shall be holy to you; for I the LORD
In the Present Times What a GREAT and Urgent need there is to understand that Priest, Bishops and the Pope are in special ways called by God, and Given extra Graces to “be holy.” And yet, it is evident that they too are human, and can and at times to REJECT these graces, We must understand that God’s Promise to guarantee the TRUTHFUL TEACHINGS of the Pope and the CC, are restricted to only those areas defined by God: namely all matters touching Faith and Morals. [John 14: 16-17, John 17:14-19].
1Sam.21: 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread at hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.” [6the holy bread
In the Present Times We see that God does not change. We see here a clear example of that, and also that The OT leads to the NT, where it is completed and perfected through Jesus Christ. Now in a Real and Literal Sense, God, who desires to be in a Intimate and Personal Relationship with us; assume in abject poverty and humiliation the appearance of mere Bread and Wine. WHY?
True Love knows no bounds!
Love and Prayers,
Pat
