Theological background
Taken from the unit of work 36C5 Eucharist nourishes us for the journey, Sharing our story Catholic Education Office of Parramatta
Introduction
Nourishment and nurturing
Jesus provided for the physical and spiritual needs of the people and nourishes us through the gift of himself in the Eucharist.
Jesus is present in the Eucharist and nourishes and sustains our lives
Introduction
- The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, 11). The other sacraments … are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented towards it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.’ (CCC 1324)
- ‘The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.’ (CCC 1322)
Nourishment and nurturing
- Throughout the early years of their school life, students will have planted and nurtured seeds to growth. They will have learnt about the essential and optimum conditions for the growth of plant life. They will also be able to explain how parents, relatives, friends, teachers and others have nurtured their personal and spiritual growth. At this stage of their lives, they are able to appreciate how they not only receive nourishment from others but must learn how to nourish others in their growth through showing respect, tolerance, kindness and forgiveness.
- Students may be able to explain an event scientifically, e.g. biological growth and development, as well as understand poetic and/or allegorical interpretations of growth and nourishment.
Jesus provided for the physical and spiritual needs of the people and nourishes us through the gift of himself in the Eucharist.
- In Lk 17:11-19, Jesus cured the lepers and praised the faith and gratitude of the one, ‘and he was a Samaritan’ (v16), who returned to thank him. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus’ celebration of meals is presented as a significant and distinguishing feature of his ministry. Levi, the tax collector, gave a banquet in Jesus’ honour (Lk 5:27-35). When one of the pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, a woman ‘who was a sinner’ washed and anointed Jesus’ feet. Jesus used the occasion to affirm the woman and give Simon a lesson in hospitality. (Lk 7:36-50) Jesus invited himself to the home of Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector and ‘a sinner’. (Lk 19:1-10)
- The scribes and pharisees were scandalised at Jesus’ ‘breaking bread’, eating and drinking with sinners and outcasts. Jesus had in mind not just sharing bread and wine but an inclusive fellowship, especially with those most in need of being ‘nourished’ with inclusion, acceptance, forgiveness and friendship. In offering such friendship in the context of a memorial meal – at the Last Supper, and now in the Eucharistic liturgy – Christ is truly present and active and our celebration becomes a sacrament of God’s love and mercy. (c.f. Liturgy in schools, p.59)
- Jesus saw to it that the hungry crowds were fed (Mk 8:1-11; Jn 6:1-15). Later, he told his disciples not to work for food that perished ‘but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.’ (Jn 6:27) Jesus knew that the crowds hungered for more than food, that they hungered for him. Jesus recognised that need when he gave himself to us in the form of bread and wine. When he spoke of the true bread from heaven giving life to the world, the disciples said, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ (Jn 6:34) Jesus’ reply caused difficulty for the faith of some: ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. …the one who eats this bread will live forever.’ (Jn 6:35, 58)
- The call of the Israelites out of Egypt and their deliverance from slavery to freedom and from death to life are celebrated in the celebration of the Passover meal. ‘This day must be commemorated by you, and you must keep it as a feast in Yahweh’s honour.’
- (Ex 12:14) Jesus celebrated his last supper with his disciples on the night before he died. Jesus celebrated this supper in the context of the celebration of the Jewish feast of Passover, the memorial of God’s saving act in Exodus. In this sacred ritual meal, Jesus renews God’s covenant with the gift of his own life as a memorial sacrifice. (c.f. Lk 22:14-20) ‘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.” (CCC 1365)
- The Eucharistic celebration is not merely a commemoration of an event, but rather a dynamic, present action which is at the heart of Christian celebration. The Eucharist becomes the means of sustaining and nourishing the life in Christ granted to us in Baptism. ‘ … Christ himself becomes our nourishment.’ (Dies Domini, 44)
Jesus is present in the Eucharist and nourishes and sustains our lives
- The message of Jesus is that he came to give life to the world. Jesus is aware of the nourishment we need for our human bodies and the nourishment that is also needed for our spirit. In the Acts of the Apostles, we read how the community, despite some problems, remained faithful to the teaching of Jesus and to the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42-47). The gathering together for Eucharist by the early Church became the sign of the new life they now had in Christ.
- Christ is present at the Eucharist in the following ways:
- - in the assembly which gathers, sings and prays in his name;
- - in the person of the priest;
- - in the Word, especially his own word, the Gospels;
- - and he is especially present in the eucharistic elements. (c.f. Liturgy in schools,p.26).
- For when two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ (Mt 18:20)
- The liturgy of the Eucharist … displays two great parts that form a fundamental unity:
- • the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, with readings, homily and general intercessions;
- • the liturgy of the Eucharist, with the presentation of the bread and wine, the consecratory thanksgiving and communion.
- The liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist together form “one single act of worship” (Dei Verbum, 21); the Eucharistic table set for us is the table both of the Word of God and of the Body of the Lord.’ (CCC 1346) The process of Christian initiation culminates as those baptised and confirmed take their place at the table of life, to receive that nourishment that is needed to live as disciples of Jesus and to proclaim his message to the world.
- ‘The celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through communion. To receive communion is to receive Christ himself who has offered himself for us.’ (CCC 1382) ‘The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: “Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (Jn 6:53) ‘ (CCC 1384)
- What food produces in our bodily life, Holy Communion achieves in our spiritual life.
- Communion with Christ in the Spirit ‘preserves, increases, and renews the life of grace received at Baptism. This growth in Christian life needs the nourishment of Eucharistic communion.’ (CCC 1392) Just as bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so Christ’s union with us in the Eucharist strengthens and nurtures our love for God, self and others. ( c.f. CCC 1394)
- In the Christian community the disciples of Jesus Christ are nourished at a twofold table; “that of the Word of God and that of the Body of Christ”. (Dei Verbum, 21) The Gospel and the Eucharist are the constant food for the journey to the Father’s house. The action of the Holy Spirit operates so that the gift of “communion” and the task of “mission” are deepenedand lived in an increasingly intense way.’ (General directory for catechesis,70)
- The celebration of Eucharist calls us to be bread for others and calls us to make our whole life Eucharistic. What does it mean to be ‘bread broken’ and ‘blood poured out’? ‘To understand what Jesus intended us to do in memory of him, we need to contextualize the Last Supper, not only in the shadow of his impending death and in the light of his Resurrection and Ascension, but also in the context of his whole ministry ..’ (Liturgy in schools, p.49) In the Gospels, the Kingdom of God is likened to a banquet at which those regarded as least worthy of invitation are invited and those seated in the places of least honour are elevated to the places of greatest honour.’ (Liturgy in schools, p.49) ‘The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognise Christ in the poorest.’ (CCC 1397)
- It was in the ‘breaking of bread’ that Jesus’ disciples recognised him after his resurrection. (c.f. CCC 1329) At the end of Mass we are sent forth to do God’s will, to ‘put on Christ ‘ in our daily lives. (c.f. CCC 1332) Communion renews, strengthens and deepens our incorporation into the Church already achieved by our Baptism. As Jesus ate with sinners and outcasts and helped the needy, so too we, as members of Christ’s body, the Church, nourished by the Eucharist, reach out to others in Jesus’ name.