 The Eucharistic Model: The Gift of Vocation Rev. Dr. Leopoldo Sánchez Werner R.H. and Elizabeth R. Krause Professor of Hispanic Ministries Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

Christian Life  An act of thanksgiving…  …for God’s giving  Predominant image: Sacrifices  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Ps. 51:17)  Spiritual worship – «living sacrifice, holy…» (Ro 12)  Becoming the aroma of Christ in the world (2 Cor. 2:15)

Christian Life  Renewal of the mind…  …after the mind of Christ  Taking the form of the Servant (Phil 2)  Disciple: «not to be served, but to serve» (Mk. 10)  The Holy Spirit forms Christ in us ( conformitas ) Diego Velazquez (1632)

Supper as Eucharist  Supper as source of thanksgiving  «…and giving thanks…»  Apology 24 – Mass  Two types of sacrifice, twofold effect  Eucharistic sacrifice – faith and works  “…to give thanks or express gratitude for having received the forgiveness of sins and other benefits” ( Apol. 24, par. 19). God gives by His grace We give to others in thanksgiving Spiritual sacrifices, sacrifices of praise

From altar to world  The Christian life is an offering to God  Giving thanks through acts of thanksgiving  The true worship of the NT is “the righteousness of faith and the fruits of faith.” ( Apol. 24, par. 27)  Sacrifices of praise include “the preaching of the gospel, faith, prayer, thanksgiving, confession, the afflictions of the saints, and indeed, all the good works of the saints.” ( Apol. 24, par. 25)

Supper as Communion  Supper as source of spiritual communion  Makes us one with Christ and one another  Sharing everything in common, pains and joys  Two “happy exchanges”, intercommunion  Receiving Christ in His saints  Helping Christ in His saints  St. Paul: Bearing each other’s burdens Luther, The Blessed Sacrament of the Holy and True Body of Christ… (1519)

Use of the Sacrament  Luther’s “gracious blending”:  Holy Communion signifies “a fellowship and a gracious blending of our sin and suffering with the righteousness of Christ and his saints” (p. 60).  When one partakes of the sacrament, “do not doubt that you have what the sacrament signifies, that is, be certain that Christ and all his saints are coming to you with all their virtues, sufferings, and mercies, to live, work, suffer, and die with you, and that they desire to be wholly yours, having all things in common with you” (p. 61)

Summing Up…  “Luther is heir to a rich tradition that approaches the Lord’s Supper as a spiritual sharing or communion with Christ and His saints, and that is manifested concretely in a type of interdependence of love and confraternity in which each member of the body does not only receive from but also give to his brother or sister in his or her need” (Sánchez, p. 135).  “Luther teaches that, by receiving the body and blood of the Lord in His Supper, the Christian receives the sign, promise, and thus assurance that the sacrament will bring about in our lives the fruit of love” (Ibid., p. 137).

Vocation Focus  Searching for significance, meaning. Place in the world.  Vocatio = Calling  God’s calling to each Christian to love the neighbor  Vocation is the ordinary way through which Christians…  Spread the aroma of Christ in church and world  Become servant disciples of Jesus in the world  Become a communion of “happy exchanges” everywhere

Disciplines  Forms of life, practices:  Vocational focus (If everybody is my neighbor…)  Intercession and help for the saints  Practicing “happy exchanges” Centrifugal orientation:  Needs of neighbors in church and world  Neighbors define what sanctification looks like From the Lord’s altar to a hurting world

Question for reflection…  St. Paul calls us to carry or “bear each other’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2). Luther speaks of those who share in Christ’s body as saints who become one body, and thus are in communion with Christ and His saints so that we share all things in common—be it sufferings or benefits.  The church is a community of “happy exchanged.” What do you especially receive from Christ through His saints? How do they bear your burdens or share in your joys?  What burdens or joys do you especially give to or share with Christ’s saints?

Liturgy and Hymnody  What Shall I Render to the Lord (Offertory, DS, I & II, LSB  “Lord, Whose Love through Humble Service” (LSB 848, st. 1-4)  Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering (LSB 600)  You Satisfy the Hungry Heart (LSB 641)  Sent Forth by God’s Blessing (LSB 643)  How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord (LSB 853)

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB Refrain You satisfy the hungry heart With gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, The bread of life to eat.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB 1As when the shepherd calls his sheep, They know and heed his voice; So when You call Your fam’ly, Lord, We follow and rejoice. Refrain.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB Refrain You satisfy the hungry heart With gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, The bread of life to eat.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB 2With joyful lips we sing to You Our praise and gratitude That You should count us worthy, Lord, To share this heav’nly food. Refrain.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB Refrain You satisfy the hungry heart With gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, The bread of life to eat.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB 3Is not the cup we bless and share The blood of Christ outpoured? Do not one cup, one loaf, declare Our oneness in the Lord? Refrain.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB Refrain You satisfy the hungry heart With gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, The bread of life to eat.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB 4The myst’ry of Your presence, Lord, No mortal tongue can tell: Whom all the world cannot contain Comes in our hearts to dwell. Refrain.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB Refrain You satisfy the hungry heart With gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, The bread of life to eat.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB 5You give Yourself to us, O Lord; Then selfless let us be, To serve each other in Your name In truth and charity. Refrain.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart 641 LSB Refrain You satisfy the hungry heart With gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, The bread of life to eat.