The Sacrament of the Eucharist

Transcription

1 Eucharist

2 The Sacrament of the Eucharist Completes Christian initiation (CCC1322) Sacrament of love - a sign of unity - a bond of charity - a Paschal Banquet in which Christ is consumed. - which perpetuates the sacrifice of the Cross.

3 Sacrament continued Minimum Age: Age of reason (7yrs.- person able to distinguish the body of Christ from ordinary food & can receive Holy Communion reverently.) Can be repeated? Yes (each time the faithful participate in the Mass with required dispositions) (read CCC1388) Obligation once a year. Matter: wheat bread (leavened or unleavened) and natural grape wine Form: Bread- Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you

4 Sacrament continued Wine- Take this, all of you. and drink this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me (Mk 14:22-26, Mt26;26-30, Lk 22:14-23) Ordinary Minister: Validly ordained priest /Bishop Extraordinary Minister: None (Laity can distribute Holy Communion but not consecrate called extraordinary minister of Holy Communion)

5 Eucharist-Sacrament

6 What is the Eucharist? Sacrifice - covenant blood life Passover Memorial Lamb of God Christ, High Priest Real Presence Transubstantiation Meal

7 What is the Eucharist? Primary meaning of Eucharist- thanksgiving given to the Father through, with and in Christ [through the sacramental priest]. (CCC ) Eucharist is the sacrificial memorial of Christ and of His Body, the Church - a real, living, visible re-presentation of the sacrifice of the Cross. (CCC )

8 What is the Eucharist? (continued) Eucharist is the presence of Christ, body, blood, soul, divinity, by the ) power of His word and the Holy Spirit. (Transubstantiation) (CCC1374) Eucharist is source and summit of the Christian life. In it is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church namely Christ Himself. (CCC1324)

9 Sacrifice is the act of offering to God fruits, vegetables, animals, food, incense or some precious object (and possibly the burning and ritual eating of the offering a special thanksgiving meal, a sign of communion with God, who was considered to be present at the meal). (Ex 18:12) First O.T. sacrifice recorded is in Genesis 4:3-5. (Cain & Abel) The substitution of a goat for the sacrifice of Isaac shows that the Israelites were aware of human sacrifice and its repudiation in the biblical faith. (Genesis 22) Sacrifice

10 Sacrifice of Abraham only beloved son, Isaac carried on his back wood for sacrifice. on Mount Moriah-future site of Temple in Jerusalem. Abraham says, God Himself will provide a lamb for burnt offering. Because of Abraham s faith God made the covenant, I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars come true. Sacrifice Jesus only beloved Son of God Carried wood cross for his crucifixion-ultimate sacrifice died on Calvary, one of the hills of Moriah s range. God did provide the Lamb, Himself, for burnt offering (Sacrifice of the Mass) God, in Christ Jesus, made the blessing for all peoples (Gal3:14) and swore an oath to save all nations (Gn22:16-18)

11 Covenant Moses asked Pharaoh to let his people go to offer a sacrifice in the desert. (Ex 5:1-3). God liberated Israel from slavery to Pharaoh so that they could be free to enter into an exclusive, intimate relationship with himself, a covenant. Ratification of covenants by sacrifice is an important biblical theme. Gen8:20 God gave them the law that would be the condition of this covenant and they sealed the deal through a rather strange ritual. (Exodus 24:3-8)

12 Blood - Life - Passover In the sacrifice to seal the covenant with Moses and the Israelites half the blood of the sacrificed animals was poured out to God at the base of the altar. The other half was sprinkled upon the people. This blood ceremony bound Israel and God making them intimate kin, a family, a community. Blood equaled life in the mind of the ancient Israelites. (It was forbidden to consume blood, since all life belonged to God.(Lv7:26-27 ) Moses and the elders further celebrated their new blood relationship with God by eating the sacrificed animals in God s presence, on the Holy Mountain. (Ex 24:11) (Ex12:7, 12-13)

13

14 Old Covenant Passover Lamb without blemish Sacrificial lamb died as ransom. Passover was act of ransom in place of firstborn. Blood on lintels meant life for Jewish people. For sprinkling blood on lintels hyssop branch used. Unleavened bread used. Necessary for redemption from slavery of Egypt. Passover Jesus Passover Jesus is the Lamb Rev-28 times Jesus, the sinless, died for all & did what millions of sacrificed lambs could never do. Blood of the New Covenant shed for all to give life. Hyssop branch used to give Jesus on the Cross sour wine Unleavened bread at Mass. (R) Central to Jesus mission to redeem man from slavery of sin.

15 New Covenant - Sacrifice - Eucharist Jesus identified His own death as a sacrifice, a shedding of blood for a new covenant. (Mk 14:22-24) The setting of the Last Supper clearly recalled the Passover sacrifice. (Mt 26:17-19, 26-29; Mk 14:12-21; Lk 22:7-9, 15-20) Eucharist is a sacrifice because it is a memorial of Christ s Passover. It re-presents(makes present) the sacrifice of the Cross and applies its fruit: liberation from sin, Satan and even death. (Rv1:5 & CCC1366) The designation of Christ as Lamb of God implies that He is a sacrificial victim. (Jn1:29; Rv 5:6, 14,17; 22:1) Paul s letter to the Hebrews (10:12) is an important portrayal of Christ, the High Priest s sacrificial role, his perfect obedience in self-offering the single sacrifice for sins.

16 The Ultimate Sacrifice

17 What is this Sacrament called? 1) Eucharist thanksgiving 2) Lord s Supper (Cf I Cor 11:20; Rev19:9) 3) Breaking of Bread (Cf Mt 26:26; 1 Cor 11:24; Acts2:42, 46; 20:7, 11) 4) Eucharistic Assembly (Cf 1 Cor 11:17-34) 5) Memorial of our Lord s Passion & Resurrection - Holy Mass or Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - Holy and Divine Liturgy (Heb13:15; 1 Pet 2:5; Ps 116:13; Mal 1:11)

18 What is this sacrament called? continued 6) Most Blessed Sacrament (see source and summit of life) 7) Holy Communion (Cf 1 Cor 10-16) 8) Viaticum food for final journey (anointing ) 9) Bread of angels, bread from Heaven, bread of life (see next slide) 10)Real Presence - Eucharistic Adoration -body (real person) -blood (centre of life) -soul (home of Spirit) -Divinity Trinitarian Love

19 Eucharist Bread of Life In the Old Covenant bread and wine were offered in sacrifice among the first fruits of the earth as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator (Gen 4:3-4). Melchizedek, king-priest brought out bread & wine (Gen 14:18-20), a prefiguring of the Church s offering.

20 Comparison Old Covenant New Covenant Melchizedek Jesus Christ king - priest king priest Offered bread & Changed bread & wine wine King of Salem, Rose as king of the land that became Heavenly Jerusalem city Jerusalem will of peace come again.

21 Eucharist - Bread of Life-continued Bread and wine received new significance in context of Exodus. Unleavened bread eaten by Israel every year at Passover commemorates the haste of the departure from a life of slavery. (Ex 12:14-17) Manna, the miraculous (in manner & quantity) nourishment (bread) provided by God for the Israelites in the desert, has, by a natural symbolism, come to be regarded as a type of the Eucharist. (Ex16:4-6; 21-25)

22 Bread of Life In the New Covenant many examples from the Gospels clearly illustrate Jesus concern that the people who accompanied him were nourished and taken care of: e.g. Feeding of the 4000 (Mk 8:1-6). Wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2:1-10) and the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Mt 14:15-21) prefigure the fulfillment of the wedding feast of Heaven and the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist.

23 Last Supper Jesus shared the unique and special meal, the Last Supper, with His apostles the first Eucharist. The apostles understood that Jesus words This is my Body This is my Blood Do this in remembrance of Me meant that this action was to be repeated again and again until the Lord returned as he had promised. (1 Cor 11:23-25; Mark 14:25)

24 Effects of Eucharist 1) A more intimate union with Jesus (CCC1391) 2) Separates Christian from a life of sin 3) formative of not only the individual person but also of the entire community of believers. (helps in practice of good works) 4) pledge of the glory to come He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and abides in me and I in him. (Jn 6:51, 54, 56)