The Eucharist

1
The Eucharist

• The Source and Summit of the Christian Life
• Catechism of the Catholic Church pr 1324

2
What is a Sacrament?

• 1131 The sacraments are efficacious signs of
  grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the
  Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.
  The visible rites by which the sacraments are
  celebrated signify and make present the graces
  proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in
  those who receive them with the required
  dispositions.

3
Outline

• What is the Eucharist?
• What the Eucharist is not.
• The Eucharist in the Old Testament.
• The Eucharist in the New Testament.
• The Eucharist in the Early Church.
• What does this mean for us?

4
What is the Eucharist

• Eucharist Greek word for thanksgiving
• 1324 For in the blessed Eucharist is contained
  the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely
  Christ himself, our Pasch."
• 1333 At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration
  are the bread and wine that, by the words of
  Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit,
  become Christ's Body and Blood.
• 1358 We must therefore consider the Eucharist as
  
• - thanksgiving and praise to the Father - the
  sacrificial memorial of Christ and his Body -
  the presence of Christ by the power of his word
  and of his Spirit.
• 1362 The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ's
  Passover, the making present and the sacramental
  offering of his unique sacrifice, in the liturgy
  of the Church which is his Body
• 1365 Because it is the memorial of Christ's
  Passover, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice. The
  sacrificial character of the Eucharist is
  manifested in the very words of institution
  "This is my body which is given for you" and
  "This cup which is poured out for you is the New
  Covenant in my blood."187 In the Eucharist Christ
  gives us the very body which he gave up for us on
  the cross, the very blood which he "poured out
  for many for the forgiveness of sins."188

5
What is the Eucharist cont.

• 1374 The mode of Christ's presence under the
  Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the
  Eucharist above all the sacraments as "the
  perfection of the spiritual life and the end to
  which all the sacraments tend."201 In the most
  blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body and
  blood, together with the soul and divinity, of
  our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole
  Christ is truly, really, and substantially
  contained."202 "This presence is called 'real' -
  by which is not intended to exclude the other
  types of presence as if they could not be 'real'
  too, but because it is presence in the fullest
  sense that is to say, it is a substantial
  presence by which Christ, God and man, makes
  himself wholly and entirely present.
• The accidents of bread and wine remain. The
  substance is completely changed.
  (transubstantiation)
• 1366 The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it
  re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the
  cross, because it is its memorial and because it
  applies its fruit

6
What the Eucharist is not

• It is not only a symbol
• We are not receiving meat and blood but the
  glorified body of the risen Lord
• Christ is not present along with the bread and
  wine (Consubstantiation)
• Christ is not merely spiritually present
• We do not re-crucify Christ

7
The Eucharist in the Old Testament
8
Melchizedek

• Gen 1418
• Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread
  and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and
  he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by
  God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20
  And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your
  enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a
  tenth of everything.
• Psalm 1104The LORD has sworn and will not
  change his mind "You are a priest forever, in
  the order of Melchizedek."

9
Melchizedek cont.

• Hebrews 55-10
• 5So Christ also did not take upon himself the
  glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to
  him,    
• "You are my Son       today I have become your
  Father. 6And he says in another place,    "You
  are a priest forever,       in the order of
  Melchizedek.
• 7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he
  offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries
  and tears to the one who could save him from
  death, and he was heard because of his reverent
  submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned
  obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made
  perfect, he became the source of eternal
  salvation for all who obey him 10and was
  designated by God to be high priest in the order
  of Melchizedek.

• Priest-King of Salem (Jeru-salem) who offered
  bread and wine
• Melchizedek was not a Levite. He was greater
  than the Levitical priesthood. Jesus was of the
  tribe of Judah not Levi.
• Abraham gave him a tenth of everything

10
The Passover Lamb

• Exodus 121-13
•   1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2
  "This month is to be for you the first month, the
  first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole
  community of Israel that on the tenth day of this
  month each man is to take a lamb for his family,
  one for each household. 4 If any household is too
  small for a whole lamb, they must share one with
  their nearest neighbor, having taken into account
  the number of people there are. You are to
  determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance
  with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you
  choose must be year-old males without defect, and
  you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6
  Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the
  month, when all the people of the community of
  Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then
  they are to take some of the blood and put it on
  the sides and tops of the doorframes of the
  houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same
  night they are to eat the meat roasted over the
  fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made
  without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or
  cooked in water, but roast it over the firehead,
  legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it
  till morning if some is left till morning, you
  must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it
  with your cloak tucked into your belt, your
  sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand.
  Eat it in haste it is the LORD's Passover.  12
  "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and
  strike down every firstbornboth men and
  animalsand I will bring judgment on all the gods
  of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a
  sign for you on the houses where you are and
  when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No
  destructive plague will touch you when I strike
  Egypt.

11
The Three Necessary Elements of the Passover

• Slaughter an unblemished lamb
• Spread its blood on the doorpost
• Eat its flesh

12
Jesus the Lamb of God

• 1 Corinthians 57Get rid of the old yeast that
  you may be a new batch without yeastas you
  really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has
  been sacrificed.
• Hebrews 1128By faith he kept the Passover and
  the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of
  the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of
  Israel.
• John 129The next day John saw Jesus coming
  toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who
  takes away the sin of the world!
• Acts 832The eunuch was reading this passage of
  Scripture "He was led like a sheep to the
  slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is
  silent, so he did not open his mouth.
• 1 Peter 119but with the precious blood of
  Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
• Revelation 56Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if
  it had been slain, standing in the center of the
  throne, encircled by the four living creatures
  and the elders. He had seven horns and seven
  eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out
  into all the earth.

13
Jesus the Lamb of God cont.

• Revelation 717
• Revelation 1211
• Revelation 138
• Revelation 1311
• Revelation 141
• Revelation 144
• Revelation 1410
• Revelation 153
• Revelation 1714
• Revelation 197

• Revelation 199
• Revelation 219
• Revelation 2114
• Revelation 2122
• Revelation 2123
• Revelation 2127
• Revelation 221
• Revelation 223

• Revelation 58
• Revelation 512
• Revelation 513
• Revelation 61
• Revelation 63
• Revelation 65
• Revelation 67
• Revelation 616
• Revelation 79
• Revelation 710
• Revelation 715

14
Manna

• Numbers 117-9
• 7 The manna was like coriander seed and
  looked like resin. 8 The people went around
  gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or
  crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot
  or made it into cakes. And it tasted like
  something made with olive oil. 9 When the dew
  settled on the camp at night, the manna also came
  down.
• Deuteronomy 83He humbled you, causing you to
  hunger and then feeding you with manna, which
  neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach
  you that man does not live on bread alone but on
  every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

15
Jesus is the True Manna

• John 648-50 
• 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate
  the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50But
  here is the bread that comes down from heaven,
  which a man may eat and not die.
• John 658This is the bread that came down from
  heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but
  he who feeds on this bread will live forever.
• Revelation 217He who has an ear, let him hear
  what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who
  overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna.
  I will also give him a white stone with a new
  name written on it, known only to him who
  receives it.

16
Levitical Sacrifices Covenant
God enters covenant with man through a sacrifice
of blood and a sacred meal

• Burnt offering
• Sin Sacrifices
• Trespass reparation Sacrifice
• The Daily Burnt Sacrifice
• Remembrance Sacrifices
• New Moon sacrifices

• 7. Communion or Peace Sacrifice
• also called aThanksgiving Sacrificeor in
  Hebrew aToda Sacrifice.Latin Eucharistia

17
King David

• 2 Samuel 614-17
• 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his
  might and David was girded with a linen ephod.
  15 So David and all the house of Israel brought
  up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with
  the sound of the horn. 16 As the ark of the LORD
  came into the city of David, Michal the daughter
  of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King
  David leaping and dancing before the LORD and
  she despised him in her heart. 17 And they
  brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its
  place, inside the tent which David had pitched
  for it and David offered burnt offerings and
  peace offerings before the LORD.

• David wore the dress of a priest
• David offered sacrifice (peace offerings)
• In the Davidic Kingdom the Toda sacrifice (peace
  offerings) became one of the most important
  sacrifices
• Christ is the new Davidic King
• John 1923
• When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took
  his garments and made four parts, one for each
  soldier also his tunic. But the tunic was
  without seam, woven from top to bottom 24 so
  they said to one another, "Let us not tear it,
  but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be."
  This was to fulfill the scripture, "They parted
  my garments among them, and for my clothing they
  cast lots."

18
The Toda Sacrifice
19
The Prophecy of Malachi

• MALACHI 111
• For from the rising of the sun to its setting my
  name is great among the nations, and in every
  place incense is offered to my name, and a pure
  offering for my name is great among the nations,
  says the LORD of hosts.

• Nations means gentiles (non-Jews)
• The offering will be pure
• It will be offered everywhere not just in the
  temple
• It will be a real sacrifice

20
The Eucharist in the New Testament
21
The Wedding Feast of Cana

• John 21-11
• 1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana
  in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2and Jesus
  and his disciples had also been invited to the
  wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother
  said to him, "They have no more wine."  4"Dear
  woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My
  time has not yet come."
• 5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever
  he tells you."
• 6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind
  used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each
  holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
• 7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with
  water" so they filled them to the brim.
• 8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take
  it to the master of the banquet."
• They did so, 9and the master of the banquet
  tasted the water that had been turned into wine.
  He did not realize where it had come from, though
  the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then
  he called the bridegroom aside 10and said,
  "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and
  then the cheaper wine after the guests have had
  too much to drink but you have saved the best
  till now."
• 11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus
  performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed
  his glory, and his disciples put their faith in
  him.

Wine flowed from the holy water vessels at the
wedding at Cana and at Calvary blood and water
flowed from the holy side of Christ, Gods vessel
of sacrifice, giving birth to the New Covenant
Church in the Sacraments of Baptism and
Eucharist.  Christ is the Bridegroom of the New
Covenant Church .
22
Feeding the Five Thousand

• John 61-15
• 1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of
  Galileeor of Tiberias 2 and a large crowd
  followed him, impressed by the signs he had done
  in curing the sick. 3  Jesus climbed the hillside
  and sat down there with his disciples.  4 The
  time of the Jewish Passover was near.  5 Looking
  up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to
  Philip, Where can we buy some bread for these
  people to eat?  6 He said this only to put Philip
  to the test he himself knew exactly what he was
  going to do.  7 Philip answered, Two hundred
  denarii would not buy enough to give them a
  little piece each.  8 One of his disciples,
  Andrew, Simon Peters brother, said, 9 Here is a
  small boy with five barley loaves and two fish
  but what is that among so many?  10  Jesus said
  to them, Make the people sit down.  There was
  plenty of grass there, and as many as five
  thousand men sat down.  11 Then Jesus took the
  loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to
  those who were sitting there he then did the
  same with the fish, distributing as much as they
  wanted.  12 When they had eaten enough he said to
  the disciples, Pick up the pieces left over, so
  that nothing is wasted.  13 So they picked them
  up and filled twelve large baskets with scraps
  left over from the meal of five barley loaves. 
  14 Seeing the sign that he had done, the people
  said, This is indeed the prophet who is to come
  into the world.  15 Jesus, as he realized they
  were about to come and take him by force and make
  him king, fled back to the hills alone.

23
Feeding the 5000 cont.

• Together the number of loaves and fish yield the
  number 7, which is the number that symbolizes
  fullness and spiritual perfection.  It may also
  be important that a fish was a sign of the Church
  in the Old Covenant and will become the sign of
  the Church in the New Covenant.
• 5 is a symbolic number and multiples of symbolic
  numbers indicate abundance.  Five is the number
  of grace therefore in this sign there is a
  super abundance of grace, which prefigures the
  super abundance of the Eucharistic meal which
  will spiritually feed the multitudes of all races
  for all generations until the return of the King.

24
Feeding the 5000 cont.

•  gave thanks in this passage is the Greek word
  eucharistein from the verb eucharisteo.  It is
  from this word that the English word Eucharist
  is derived.
• The word translated scraps in verse 13 also
  translated as fragments in other translations
  is an extremely interesting word.  In the literal
  Greek translation this word, klasma Strongs
  2801, is not plural but is expressed in the
  singular form scrap (or fragment) left over
  indicating one whole.  Notice that John
  emphasizes the identity of the fragment(s) with
  the original loaves left over from the meal of
  the five barley loaves.  The unique meaning of
  this passage was obvious to the early Church as
  is indicated in the Eucharistic Prayer found in
  the early Church document known as The Didache
  Teaching.
• Concerning the broken bread We give Thee
  thanks, Our Father, for the life and knowledge
  which Thou hast made known to us through Jesus,
  Thy Servant. To Thee be the glory for evermore. 
  As this broken bread was scattered over the
  hills and then, when gathered, became one, so
  may Thy Church be gathered from the ends of the
  earth into Thy Kingdom.  The Didache, 9
  Eucharistic Prayer written circa 50-120AD.

25
John 6 The Bread of Life Discourse

• John 632-70
• 32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it
  is not Moses who has given you the bread from
  heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the
  true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is
  he who comes down from heaven and gives life to
  the world."
• 34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this
  bread."
• 35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life.
  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he
  who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But
  as I told you, you have seen me and still you do
  not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will
  come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never
  drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven
  not to do my will but to do the will of him who
  sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent
  me, that I shall lose none of all that he has
  given me, but raise them up at the last day.
  40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks
  to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal
  life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

26
John 6 cont.

• 41At this the Jews began to grumble about him
  because he said, "I am the bread that came down
  from heaven." 42They said, "Is this not Jesus,
  the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we
  know? How can he now say, 'I came down from
  heaven'?"
• 43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus
  answered. 44"No one can come to me unless the
  Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise
  him up at the last day. 45It is written in the
  Prophets 'They will all be taught by God.'
  Everyone who listens to the Father and learns
  from him comes to me. 46No one has seen the
  Father except the one who is from God only he
  has seen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, he
  who believes has everlasting life. 48I am the
  bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna
  in the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the
  bread that comes down from heaven, which a man
  may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that
  came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this
  bread, he will live forever. This bread is my
  flesh, which I will give for the life of the
  world."

27
John 6 cont.

• 52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among
  themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh
  to eat?"
• 53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth,
  unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and
  drink his blood, you have no life in you.
  54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has
  eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
  day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is
  real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my
  blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the
  living Father sent me and I live because of the
  Father, so the one who feeds on me will live
  because of me. 58This is the bread that came down
  from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died,
  but he who feeds on this bread will live
  forever." 59He said this while teaching in the
  synagogue in Capernaum.

28
John 6 cont.

•  60On hearing it, many of his disciples said,
  "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
   61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about
  this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
  62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where
  he was before! 63The Spirit gives life the flesh
  counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to
  you are spirit and they are life. 64Yet there are
  some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had
  known from the beginning which of them did not
  believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to
  say, "This is why I told you that no one can come
  to me unless the Father has enabled him."
• 66From this time many of his disciples turned
  back and no longer followed him.
•  67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus
  asked the Twelve.
•  68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom
  shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
  69We believe and know that you are the Holy One
  of God."

29
John 6

• This is the only time in scripture that Christ
  does not take the apostles aside and explain to
  them the meaning of his teachings. He meant
  exactly what he said. He did not speak in
  parables this time.

30
The Institution Narratives

• Matthew 2626-28
• 26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave
  thanks and broke it, and gave it to his
  disciples, saying, "Take and eat this is my
  body." 27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and
  offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all
  of you. 28This is my blood of the covenant, which
  is poured out for many for the forgiveness of
  sins.
• Mark 1422-24
• 22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave
  thanks and broke it, and gave it to his
  disciples, saying, "Take it this is my body."
  23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered
  it to them, and they all drank from it. 24"This
  is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out
  for many," he said to them.
• Luke 2217-20
• 17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said,
  "Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell
  you I will not drink again of the fruit of the
  vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19And he
  took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it
  to them, saying, "This is my body given for you
  do this in remembrance of me." 20In the same way,
  after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This
  cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is
  poured out for you.

31
The Last Supper was a Sacrifice

• Leviticus 1711
• For the life of the creature is in the blood,
  and I have given it to you for performing the
  rite of expiation on the altar for your lives,
  for blood is what expiates for a life.

When Christ institutes the Last Supper He
separates the cup and the bread designating the
bread as His body and the cup as His blood. By
doing this He separates the blood from the body
thereby making sacrifice.
32
The Last Supper Anamnesis

• The word anamnesis is used only four times in
  the Old Testament. Twice it is used in a
  sacrificial context.
• Heb 103
• But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance
  (anamnesis) again made of sins every year.
• Numbers 1010
• "Also at your times of rejoicing . . . you are
  to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings
  and fellowship offerings, and they will be a
  memorial (anamnesis) for you before your God."
• Leviticus 247
• 7 And you shall put pure frankincense with each
  row, that it may go with the bread as a memorial
  (anamnesis) portion to be offered by fire to the
  LORD

The Last Supper was a true sacrifice and the
beginning of the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ on
the cross for the remission of sins.
33
The Fourth Cup

• The Sacrificial Meal of the Passover lamb was
  structured around 4 cups of sacramental red wine
  shared communally by the faithful assembled for
  the meal.  According to the Old Covenant Law only
  members of the Covenant Church may attend this
  sacrificial meal see Exodus 1247-51.
• 1.      The meal opened with prayers and the
  blessing and drinking of the first cup called
  the Cup of Sanctification.  This was followed by
  the first ritual hand washing and the eating of
  the first dipping of the bitter herbs.
• 2.      The second cup is the Cup of
  Forgiveness, which is blessed and poured out but
  not passed.  The four ritual questions must be
  recited, the story of the first Passover must be
  told, and the assembly must sing Hallel Psalm 113
  before this cup is passed, and consumed.
• 3.      After the drinking of the second cup
  comes the second ritual hand washing followed by
  the blessing and eating of the unleavened bread,
  bitter herb, fruit mixture, and the lamb.  The
  lamb is to be completely consumed and afterward
  no more food is to be eaten.  Hands are washed a
  third time and then the most important cup of
  the meal, the Cup of Blessing also called the
  Cup of Redemption is poured, blessed and passed
  communally. 
• 4.      At the conclusion of the meal the 4th
  cup is poured out and blessed. It is the Cup of
  Acceptance, which seals and unites those present
  to Yahweh through the Passover Sacrifice. The
  assembly sings the remainder of the Hallel
  Psalms 114-118, the faithful drink the 4th cup
  and the host cries out Teltelesti It is
  finished fulfilled.

34
The Fourth cup cont.

• We know the third cup is taken with the meal,
  then the fourth cup is passed
• However Jesus and his disciples sing the Great
  Hallel before taking the fourth cup. They then
  leave having not completed the Seder meal.
• Where is the fourth cup?
• What does Jesus pray in the garden? If it be
  Thy will let this cup pass from me. Not my will,
  but Thy will be done.
• He refuses wine when it is first offered to him.
• He then says I thirst. Wine is offered to him
  on a hyssop branch. Do you remember where we
  first saw the use of hyssop? He drinks the Cup
  of Acceptance, the fourth cup, and finishes the
  Passover sacrifice by saying the words It is
  finished.

35
The Road to Emmaus

• Luke 2413-32
• 13Now that same day two of them were going to a
  village called Emmaus, about seven miles from
  Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other
  about everything that had happened. 15As they
  talked and discussed these things with each
  other, Jesus himself came up and walked along
  with them 16but they were kept from recognizing
  him.  17He asked them, "What are you discussing
  together as you walk along?"

36
The Road to Emmaus cont.

• 25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how
  slow of heart to believe all that the prophets
  have spoken! 26Did not the Christ have to suffer
  these things and then enter his glory?" 27And
  beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he
  explained to them what was said in all the
  Scriptures concerning himself.
• 28As they approached the village to which they
  were going, Jesus acted as if he were going
  farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay
  with us, for it is nearly evening the day is
  almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
• 30When he was at the table with them, he took
  bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it
  to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they
  recognized him, and he disappeared from their
  sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our
  hearts burning within us while he talked with us
  on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Christ is revealed to the disciples in the
breaking of the bread. Here we have Christ
celebrating the Mass by teaching them the
scriptures (liturgy of the Word) and breaking the
bread (liturgy of the Eucharist)
37
The Church in Acts

• Acts 238-42
• 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every
  one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
  forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive
  the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for
  you and your children and for all who are far
  offfor all whom the Lord our God will call."
• 40With many other words he warned them and he
  pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this
  corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his
  message were baptized, and about three thousand
  were added to their number that day.
• 42They devoted themselves to the apostles'
  teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking
  of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled
  with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs
  were done by the apostles.

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St. Pauls Teaching on the Eucharist

• 1 Corinthians 1015-22
•   15 I speak to sensible people judge for
  yourselves what I say. 16Is not the cup of
  thanksgiving for which we give thanks a
  participation in the blood of Christ? And is not
  the bread that we break a participation in the
  body of Christ? 17Because there is one loaf, we,
  who are many, are one body, for we all partake of
  the one loaf.
• 18Consider the people of Israel Do not those
  who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?
  19Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an
  idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
  20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to
  demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be
  participants with demons. 21You cannot drink the
  cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too you
  cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and
  the table of demons. 22Are we trying to arouse
  the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

• The cup of demons is a sacrifice to demons, the
  cup of the Lord is compared in the same context
  implying that it is a sacrifice as well.
• When a person eats the sacrifices they
  participate in the alter. What is the alter for
  Christians when we partake of the Eucharist?

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St Pauls Teaching on the Eucharist cont.

• 1 Corinthians 1123-30
• 23For I received from the Lord what I also
  passed on to you The Lord Jesus, on the night he
  was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given
  thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body,
  which is for you do this in remembrance of me."
  25In the same way, after supper he took the cup,
  saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my
  blood do this, whenever you drink it, in
  remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat this
  bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's
  death until he comes.
•  27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks
  the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be
  guilty of sinning against the body and blood of
  the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before
  he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For
  anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing
  the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on
  himself. 30That is why many among you are weak
  and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

People had fallen asleep (died) because they
had profaned the body and blood of the Lord. Did
they die because they had received a symbol
unworthily?
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What Does Heavenly Worship Look Like?

• Revelation 56-14
• 6 And between the throne and the four living
  creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb
  standing, as though it had been slain, with seven
  horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven
  spirits of God sent out into all the earth 7 and
  he went and took the scroll from the right hand
  of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when
  he had taken the scroll, the four living
  creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down
  before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with
  golden bowls full of incense, which are the
  prayers of the saints 9 and they sang a new
  song, saying, "Worthy art thou to take the scroll
  and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by
  thy blood didst ransom men for God from every
  tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and
  hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
  and they shall reign on earth." 11 Then I looked,
  and I heard around the throne and the living
  creatures and the elders the voice of many
  angels, numbering myriads of myriads and
  thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud
  voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to
  receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and
  honor and glory and blessing!" 13 And I heard
  every creature in heaven and on earth and under
  the earth and in the sea, and all therein,
  saying, "To him who sits upon the throne and to
  the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and
  might for ever and ever!" 14 And the four living
  creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down
  and worshiped.

41
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb

• Rev 196-9
• 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a
  great multitude, like the sound of many waters
  and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals,
  crying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the
  Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and
  give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb
  has come, and his Bride has made herself ready 8
  it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen,
  bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the
  righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel
  said to me, "Write this Blessed are those who
  are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."
  And he said to me, "These are true words of God."

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The Eucharist in the Early Church
43
Quotes from the Church Fathers

• ST. CLEMENT OF ROME (c. 80 A.D.)
• Our sin will not be small if we eject from the
  episcopate those who blamelessly and holily
  have OFFERED ITS SACRIFICES or offered the
  gifts, referring to the Eucharist. (Letter to
  Corinthians 444)
• ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH (c. 110 A.D.)
• I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the
  pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of
  God, WHICH IS THE FLESH OF JESUS CHRIST, who was
  of the seed of David and for drink I DESIRE HIS
  BLOOD, which is love incorruptible. (Letter to
  Romans 73)

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Quotes from the Church Fathers

• Take care, then, to use one Eucharist, so that
  whatever you do, you do according to God FOR
  THERE IS ONE FLESH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, and
  one cup IN THE UNION OF HIS BLOOD one ALTAR, as
  there is one bishop with the presbytery... (Letter
  to Philadelphians 41)
• They i.e. the Gnostics abstain from the
  Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not
  confess that THE EUCHARIST IS THE FLESH OF OUR
  SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, flesh which suffered for our
  sins and which the Father, in his goodness,
  raised up again. (Letter to Smyrn 71)

45
Quotes from the Church Fathers

• ST. JUSTIN THE MARTYR (c. 100 - 165 A.D.)
• We call this food Eucharist and no one else is
  permitted to partake of it, except one who
  believes our teaching to be true and who has been
  washed in the washing which is for the remission
  of sins and for regeneration Baptism, and is
  thereby living as Christ has enjoined.
• For not as common bread nor common drink do we
  receive these but since Jesus Christ our Savior
  was made incarnate by the word of God and had
  both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too,
  as we have been taught, the food which has been
  made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer
  set down by Him, AND BY THE CHANGE OF WHICH our
  blood and flesh is nourished, IS BOTH THE FLESH
  AND THE BLOOD OF THAT INCARNATED JESUS. (First
  Apology 66)

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Quotes from the Church Fathers

• Moreover, as I said before, concerning the
  sacrifices which you at that time offered, God
  speaks through Malachi 110-12...It is of
  the SACRIFICES OFFERED TO HIM IN EVERY PLACE BY
  US, the Gentiles, that is, OF THE BREAD OF THE
  EUCHARIST AND LIKEWISE OF THE CUP OF THE
  EUCHARIST, that He speaks at that time and He
  says that we glorify His name, while you profane
  it. (Dialogue with Trypho 41)
• 
  
• DIDACHE or TEACHING OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES (c.
  140 A.D.)
• On the Lord's Day of the Lord gather together,
  break bread and give thanks, after confessing
  your transgressions SO THAT YOUR SACRIFICE MAY BE
  PURE. Let no one who has a quarrel with his
  neighbor join you until he is reconciled by the
  Lord "In every place and time let there
  be OFFERED TO ME A CLEAN SACRIFICE. For I am a
  Great King," says the Lord, "and My name is
  wonderful among the Gentiles." (141-2)

47
Quotes from the Church Fathers

• ST. IRENAEUS (c. 140 - 202 A.D.)
• ...He took from among creation that which is
  bread, and gave thanks, saying, "THIS IS MY
  BODY." The cup likewise, which is from among the
  creation to which we belong, HE CONFESSED TO BE
  HIS BLOOD.
• He taught THE NEW SACRIFICE OF THE NEW COVENANT,
  of which Malachi, one of the twelve prophets, had
  signified beforehand quotes Mal 110-11. By
  these words He makes it plain that the former
  people will cease to make offerings to God BUT
  THAT IN EVERY PLACE SACRIFICE WILL BE OFFERED TO
  HIM, and indeed, a pure one for His name is
  glorified among the Gentiles. (Against Heresies
  4175)

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Quotes from the Church Fathers

• But what consistency is there in those who hold
  that the bread over which thanks have been
  given IS THE BODY OF THEIR LORD, and the cup HIS
  BLOOD, if they do not acknowledge that He is the
  Son of the Creator... How can they say that the
  flesh which has been nourished BY THE BODY OF THE
  LORD AND BY HIS BLOOD gives way to corruption and
  does not partake of life? ...For as the bread
  from the earth, receiving the invocation of
  God, IS NO LONGER COMMON BREAD BUT THE EUCHARIST,
  consisting of two elements, earthly and
  heavenly... (Against Heresies 4184-5)
• If the BODY be not saved, then, in fact, neither
  did the Lord redeem us with His BLOOD and
  neither is the cup of the EUCHARIST THE PARTAKING
  OF HIS BLOOD nor is the bread which we break THE
  PARTAKING OF HIS BODY...He has declared the cup,
  a part of creation, TO BE HIS OWN BLOOD, from
  which He causes our blood to flow and the bread,
  a part of creation, HE HAS ESTABLISHED AS HIS OWN
  BODY, from which He gives increase to our bodies.
• When, therefore, the mixed cup and the baked
  bread receives the Word of God and BECOMES THE
  EUCHARIST, THE BODY OF CHRIST, and from these the
  substance of our flesh is increased and
  supported, how can they say that the flesh is not
  capable of receiving the gift of God, WHICH IS
  ETERNAL LIFE -- flesh which is nourished BY THE
  BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD...receiving the Word
  of God, BECOMES THE EUCHARIST, WHICH IS THE BODY
  AND BLOOD OF CHRIST... (Against Heresies 522-3)

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What does this Mean for Us?
50
The Mass

• At every Mass we have the chance to come together
  and renew our covenant with God through the
  precious body and blood of His only begotten Son.
• At every Mass we encounter our Lord at the foot
  of His cross.
• At every Mass we participate in the heavenly
  liturgy with all the angels and saints worshiping
  the Lamb, standing as if slain.

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