Sunday, November 20, 2016
John 6:53-59
There was a time that school children were taught the Seven Wonders of the World: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Lighthouse of Alexandria, The Colossus of Rhodes, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis of Ephesus, Great Pyramid at Giza, and the Mausoleum Halicarnassus. The architectural and engineering genius of those sites left one to marvel “How did they do that?” The mystery lingers today. At that same time, Christian children were taught the Seven Mysteries/Sacraments of the Church, including the mystery/sacrament of Jesus’ eternality, His virgin-born incarnation, His sacrifice at the Cross for sin, and His body and blood as a sacrament. Christians need to return to teaching the facts, importance of and reasons behind the observances of sacraments.
Sacraments Are Participatory. As Jesus was sustained in the womb by what Mary ate and drank through her blood, so are we in the Body of Christ, the Church, sustained by His Blood. We participate in the sacrament of Communion by eating and drinking the elements representing the Body and Blood of Christ, crucified and resurrected for our sins. We participate in a sacrificial meal.
Celebratory. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper. It is a Feast Day where we give thanks for the grace of Salvation. We drink from the Cup of Salvation and feast on the Living Manna from heaven, rejoicing that our sins are forgiven.
Sacraments Are Anticipatory. We participate in the Lord’s Supper on earth now, but we look forward to eating together in the Big House in heaven. We will celebrate with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, communing with all those who love God.