Wait, what? I'm not gonna go word-by-word this time, frankly, because I'm not that good of a theologian. On the other hand, considering the depth of the riches of the mystery* of the Eucharist, who is? Are you kidding? Question 1: Wait a minute, Sparky. (And yes, I will answer to this. When the time comes, I will also answer to "Dr. Sparky.") How is this celebration/sacrament/ordinance a sacrifice, when Christ has died once-for-all, as the Scripture teaches (Hebrews 9:11-13, 26)? Great question. In layman's terms, there is no time. In the sacrifice of our redemption, Christ is both Victim and Priest. That which is true of that sacrifice is true of this one. Christ would not, and cannot, consent to dying again without denigrating what has already been accomplished. So, whatever the person who is acting in the person of Christ the Head is doing, he can't deny Calvary, because Christ is ever-obedient to the Father; he'd be the last to deny it! But this is the meaning: if it serves the glory of the Father, and the salvation of us his brethren, He can bring the Cross to us. He did say, "After I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself." John 12:34. This IS Calvary, for all time, every time. Look at 1 Corinthians 11:26. I'm here to tell you without getting hyper-technical that the Greek here is truly creepy. Probably another translation of our words, "For as often as" here in the English RSV (and a better one) is, "Each time you do this..." Moreover, "you proclaim" is present tense, active indicative, and this means that it's perfectly reasonable to translate it all, "Each time you do this, you are proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes." Let that sit for a minute. We are not simply ones who remember; we live as the eschatological People of God, for whom all God's redemptive acts are present to us as if we were there. Because in a true sense, we are. Especially in this greatest act. This is why St. Paul says to the Corinthians slightly prior, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a
participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a
participation in the
body of Christ? Because
there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one
bread. Consider the practice of Israel; are not those who eat the
sacrifices partners in the altar?" (1 Cor 10:16-18) While keeping in mind that the New Covenant mysteries/sacraments have a greater efficacy than those of the Old (Laus tibi, Domine!), do recall Exodus 12:14: "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as an ordinance for ever." To be direct, the only way the LORD keeps this promise is in the Eucharist. John 6:51-58. In any case, our "forever" is bounded only by "until He comes." Then we shall eat, and rejoice and see, with no veil or sign.
How can He save us, how can we eat and not die, if Christ is not present as true priest and victim? We do not, and cannot eat the food of eternal life merely by remembering; Christ must be there, and he must give himself to us. It's deep, but it's not hard.
*Biblically speaking, "mystery" means, "Wow, that is deep and unsearchable!" but it also means something like, "This is a truth of God's wise plan that was once hidden, but is now revealed." So, sacraments are indeed very special.
How can He save us, how can we eat and not die, if Christ is not present as true priest and victim? We do not, and cannot eat the food of eternal life merely by remembering; Christ must be there, and he must give himself to us. It's deep, but it's not hard.
*Biblically speaking, "mystery" means, "Wow, that is deep and unsearchable!" but it also means something like, "This is a truth of God's wise plan that was once hidden, but is now revealed." So, sacraments are indeed very special.
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