Contents
Preamble
God loves the entire Created Order that He takes care of the material and spiritual life of his creation, especially of human beings. Jesus recalled the attention of the disciples, when they wanted to bypass this divine dictate (Luke 9:11–17. Cf. also Mark 6:30–44). The dogmatic theology scholars cannot forget the long-heated debates concerning the nature of the consecrated bread and wine – Consubstantiation (also called Impanation) and Transubstantiation. In as much as we appreciate the effort to provide a dogmatic foundation to and for the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we must ensure that such debates do not empty the Eucharist of its essential and scriptural (salvific and communal) effects. The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.”[i]
[i] Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, n. 11.
The Eucharist and the Sacrifice of Communion
The Sacrament of the Eucharist could be likened to the Hebrew (Old) Testament sacrifice of communion or fellowship (cf. Lev 7). For the Jews, and according to Exodus 24:3–8, this communion is a sacred banquet. The most vital parts of the animal are offered to God; a special part is attributed to the priests; while the congregation consumes the rest of the animal. During the Ancient Period, this type of sacrifice was more frequent and formed the central rite during feasts, expressing in this way, a communion and community of life, the relationship of alliance and of friendship between the congregations and their God[i] or gods as the case may be. The reference to the wilderness experience of the Israelites as regards the manna (First Reading), is a foretaste of the Christian Testament of the Eucharist. If, as Jesus reminded the Jews, despite eating the manna, their ancestors died, it means something greater and better than that should be sought. And Jesus affirms he is that alternative (the Gospel). Whoever eats the bread from heaven will never die. Naturally, this saying threw the Jews off-balance that they began arguing among themselves (cf. John 6:52). Jesus’ words need not be argued, but believed. Because we partake of the one bread, we must be united.
[i] “In the Eucharistic banquet the people of God are called together…” (Can. 899 §2).
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