Entering Into The Liturgy Of The Eucharist
Following the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word with the Universal Prayers, we enter into the second part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Eucharist, known in some Protestant Churches as the Lord’s Supper, reenacts the Last Supper when Jesus gave thanks to God for all the marvelous deeds God accomplished on behalf of his people. For the Jewish People, God’s awesome love was revealed in the Exodus from slavery in Egypt through the Red Sea into the Promised Land. The Jewish people recall this event annually during their Passover Meal. According to the Gospels, the Last Supper took place during the Jewish Passover Meal, during which Jesus took bread and wine pointing now to the new Exodus – his passing over from this life to the Father on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
The Eucharist continues Jesus’ love evidenced through his care for the sick, forgiveness of sinners, his teaching and friendships and the many meals shared with saints and sinners alike. Someone once commented how they wish they could have been present at a meal with Jesus, to which I replied, “We are; He invites us to dine with him at every Eucharist.” Jesus’ meal fellowship continues on in our day because He is alive! Jesus’ final, greatest act of love was offering his life on the cross, which can never be seen in isolation from Jesus’ entire life of service.
In the Eucharist, we remember Jesus’ entire life and ministry, including his death and resurrection. This remembering is not the same as recalling a past memory – e.g. a favorite vacation or George Washington chopping down the cherry tree. We Christians inherited from our Jewish ancestors an understanding that when recalling a past event, God actually makes that event present again in their midst. In remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, his total sacrificial love during his lifetime is made present to us through sacramental signs. Jesus’ saving death and resurrection are made present once again in our midst for Jesus bears for all eternity the marks of his death in his glorified body. Jesus has the same love for us and all future generations just as he had while hanging upon the cross.
Similar to the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with Rites of Preparation. According to Rev. Joseph Jungmann, in his famous historical book “Mass of the Roman Rite,” these Preparation Rites evolved during the course of the Church’s history. Jesus did not bequeath to the Church strict instructions for the structure of the Mass. What Jesus gave us was the example of the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving for God’s deeds (the Eucharistic Prayer), the words over bread and wine, and the command to do this in His memory.
At the Last Supper, there was no need for a preparation rite since the bread and wine were already placed on the table. Likewise, the earliest accounts of the Eucharist mention nothing about preparation rites. As long as the Eucharist was celebrated within the context of a meal on Sunday evening, preparation rites were unnecessary since the bread and wine were already on the presider’s table. During the course of the dinner, the one appointed to preside would stand at his table and, taking bread and wine, recite Jesus’ words over them. They were then shared with all Christians present. Due to abuses occurring during this meal (as St. Paul recounts in 1 Corinthians 12), the meal eventually was discontinued – leading to a modest preparation of gifts as described by St. Justin Martyr.
Father Sauer continues his series on the Mass in the Feb. 17 issue of The Message.
