The Eucharistic Feast “This is My Body… This is My Blood.”

“The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” Right before His death, Jesus leaves His apostles with His enduring presence, in the Eucharist – a sign of how close wants to be to us. “Remember, I will be with you always, even unto the end of the age.”

WHAT is the Eucharist? As Catholics, we use the word TRANSUBSTANTIATION to describe our belief that it IS the Body and Blood of Jesus. Sometimes, this has been taken TOO literally. You don’t hurt Jesus if you chew it. You can’t clone a Jesus from it. You can’t use it for a blood transfusion.

Variations on a theme MANY Protestant churches believe in some variation of the Catholic belief. For example, they will say Jesus is IN it, WITH it, AMONG the bread and wine, but will not say it IS His Body and Blood. They still do, however, believe in REAL PRESENCE. SOME Protestant churches, however, especially those who descend from John Calvin, believe it is ONLY a sign.

So, is it a sign? Yes. But an EFFECTIVE sign, one that makes the thing it signifies HAPPEN. A peace sign represents peace, but doesn’t end war. A wedding ring represents a couple’s love, but doesn’t contain it. The Eucharist both represents Jesus’ Body and Blood AND becomes it.

Why bread and wine? Bread and wine nourish. Our diets are rich: theirs would have been mostly bread and wine. So they were not just one of many options: without these things, you were dead! In a country filled with poverty, nourishment is crucially important.

Bread in Scripture When the Jews were starving in the desert, God gave them MANNA, a bread-like substance, to sustain them. Jesus fed 5,000 men from a few loaves and fish. He took the bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to the disciples. Jesus compares the Eucharist to this: both given by God, but manna only sustained life for a few hours. His leads to everlasting life.

Wine in Scripture In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ first miracle is changing water into wine at the Cana.

Bread and wine In the story of Abraham, King Melchizedek is both a king and a priest, and offers a sacrifice of bread and wine to the Most High God.

Passover and the Eucharist Like Moses, Jesus leads a Passover feast, leads His people from slavery/death to life. Like the Paschal lamb, Jesus gives His life to save people from death. We use UNLEAVENED bread (no yeast, like pita bread) to remember the time when Israelites were refugees.

Anamnesis “Do this in memory of Me.” Right before Jesus dies, He tells His apostles how to remember Him. When we lose someone, we often look for ways to remember them.

In the Eucharist, we do not merely remember, but Jesus is made present NOW. We also remember in the liturgy all those who have gone before us – and look forward to our eventual reunion with loved ones and God.

Thanksgiving!!! Jesus “gave thanks” – the words Eucharist means “Thanksgiving.” We are not thankful once a year, but every time we gather as an assembly to worship. Bread and wine symbolize the gifts God has given us.

The Synoptic Last Supper (Matthew) Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."26.27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

John’s Last Supper No Eucharist – instead, He washes their feet, as a sign of service. “For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” Jesus tells them : A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

More on love… 15.9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends You are my friends if you do what I command you No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you This I command you, to love one another.

Promise of the Spirit But when the Advocate (Holy Spirit)comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Have hope in your sorrow “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

Why at a meal? Why with a group? Why not pray at home each Sunday? Who do you eat meals with? Close friends, family, love interests. Jesus doesn’t want us to be loners. He wants us to form COMMUNITY (like the word “Communion”.) The people you worship with should form a COMMUNITY, and treat each other like family.

What does CHURCH refer to? The entire people of God throughout the world. The diocese, which is also known as the local Church. The assembly of believers gathered for the celebration of the liturgy, especially the Eucharist.

The Mass We begin by invoking the Trinity: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” “And with your spirit.” The Penitential Act is a moment for repentance of sin: sins we’ve done, good deeds we haven’t (kind of like an AA meeting for sinners).

We then praise God in the GLORIA, which leads to the LITURGY OF THE WORD: 1 st Reading: usually from Old Testament, related in theme to Gospel passage of the day Responsorial Psalm (from the book of Psalms) 2 nd Reading: Usually from the New Testament letters Gospel acclamation: quick verse, often from the Gospels Gospel: a passage from Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, telling part of the story of Jesus’ life on earth and His teachings. Homily: Priest/deacon explains readings, helps people apply them to their life

The Homily is followed by: Profession of Faith (Nicene Creed – I believe in one God…) Prayer of the Faithful: petitions (“We pray to the Lord…Lord, hear our prayer.”)

The Consecration and the Eucharist follow Jesus is present in the Bread and Wine, in the Word of God, and in the gathered assembly.