Eucharist

Question 1

Commonalities

Answer 1

• it’s a universal practice for Christians to celebrate the Eucharist
• Jesus commanded it
• Luke 22:19-20 “ this is my body broken for you; do this in remembrance of me…”
  Likewise 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 “…this is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of me…”
• it also connects to the past but also shows how Christianity is unique ( a change from how redemption worked in past times)
• it’s a focus on thanksgiving. Jesus himself gave thanks for the bread and the wine (what the term Eucharist means) and Christians give thanks for their forgiveness
• it is undoubtedly the most important sacrament

Question 2

McGraths 4 functions of the Eucharist

Answer 2

1- recollection at Gods actions to save people
2 - anticipation ; Paul says that by participating in the Eucharist we “proclaim the lords death until he comes”
- Christian’s look forward to a time when they will be with the Jesus they remember
3- present: affirmation of individual faith- faith and trust is deepened by engaging the mind and the body in this ritual
4- present: affirmation of communal faith - the community comes together and affirms their commitment to Jesus (the original meaning of ‘sacraments’)

Question 3

How is Jesus involved - differences

Answer 3

• the big issue that divides vhristaisn is how we literally take “this is my body”
• do we take it physically or metaphorically?
• this is a popular disagreement in various Christian denominations
• so some ask if Jesus is physically present in the meal so that the Eucharist confers some kind of grace or strength to the believer apart from their own feelings or attitudes
• or was Jesus speaking metaphorically (this ‘is like’ my body) so that this meal is a symbolic act, simply reminding Christian’s of spiritual truths

Question 4

Sacrament

Answer 4

• for Augustine a sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace .
• a sacrament actually forms a bridge between God and us
• in other words, sacraments are more than signs- they not only signify, they sanctify
• Augustine disagrees saying that the sacraments do not rest as much upon their human agent as they do on their divine agent - Jesus
• he believes it’s the work of God not the work of the person who deliverers the bread and wine

Question 5

The fourth Lateran council

Answer 5

• ## have a definitive statement “ Jesus Christ, whose body and blood are truly contained under the species of bread and wine … being changed in substance…”

Question 6

Transubstantiation

Answer 6

• before the bread and wine are consecrated, their accidents and substances are the same but after consecration the substance of the bread and wine become body and blood of Jesus

Question 7

Martin Luther’s challenge

Answer 7

• he challenged the idea of transubstansiation
• he believed that Jesus was really present in communion
• he criticised the use of the Greek philosophical categories to explain the bible
• Luther used the term sacramental union
• there is no change in substance but somehow Jesus is really present with the elements
• despite this the belief in transubstantiation was reaffirmed in the council of Trent and remains in force today

Question 8

The three positions in the controversy

Answer 8

1- Jesus is biologically present in the bread and wine (transubstantiation)
2 - Jesus is really present; but you can’t theorise about it ( the belief of Luther - consubstantiation)
3- the Eucharist is only a symbol (the belief of Zwingli)