How could Christ celebrate the Eucharist on Holy Thursday?

[Dave813]

A non-Catholic cousin of mine with whom I’ve been in dialogue for some time recently asked me this question:

“How do catholics reconcile Christ being at the last supper and his body being in the meal before he was able to offer it as sacrifice on the cross. Are there any other explanations offered short of just the understanding that he is wholy human as well as divine?”

I remember asking basically the same question during one of my college classes, but the professor’s answer has long since placed itself somewhere way back in the cobwebs of my brain.

I want to give her a good, solid answer, so any help is very much appreciated!

 

[Cat_Herder]

Ask your cousin why Melchizedek’s “grain” offering was acceptable when Cain’s was not.

For background, read Genesis 14, Hebrews 6 and 7 and 1 Corinthians 10:16 and chapter 11.

Long story short, if Melchizedek could offer sacrifice according to the same order as Jesus Christ before Christ even became incarnate, why can’t Jesus Himself do likewise?

 

[JimG]

The Eucharist stands outside of time and space. Jesus makes the events of our salvation present to all times and all places in which the sacrament is celebrated–including the Last Supper.

 

[Barbkw]

Because while still alive in flesh, the Son of God took bread and said, “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood”.