Lamb's supper question from study

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We are studying the Lamb’s Supper by Dr. Scott Hahn in small groups. We’re using the study guide supplied by St. Paul Cent for Biblical Theology. www.salvationhistory.com

The question on the study guide I’m struggling with: Why is the Bible alone able to give the Mass its life-transforming power?

The reference in the study guide says:The Bible gives the Mass it efficacy- Its power to deliver what it promises, its power to bring us into communion with the true and living presence of Jesus.

:confused: huh? Didn’t the Mass come before the Bible? Also, I thought its life transforming power came from the Eucharist which comes from priesthood. Isn’t it the Church that gives Mass its efficacy?

I’m sure that I’m missing something. I’m no Scott Hahn. help! It is driving me nuts. Also, I think I drove my study group a little nuts puzzling over this.
 
Perhaps if we could read it in context we could be of more help. Can you give us a page number?

C King
 
From the pertinent section of the study guide:
Words of Spirit and Life
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None of this is accidental.
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In God’s plan of salvation, the Bible and the Mass are given for our salvation - to enable us to penetrate the mystery of God’s plan, and to unite our lives to His.
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Scripture, Paul said, is “inspired by God” and given to us “for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (see 2 Timothy 3:15-16; John 20:31).
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The salvation and new life that Scripture proclaims, is “actualized” - made real in our lives - in the Mass.
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As Jesus said: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” (see John 6:53-54).
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That’s why the worship of the Mass is biblical worship. The Bible gives the Mass its “efficacy” - its power to deliver what it promises, it’s power to bring us into communion with the true and living presence of Jesus.
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Our worship can be life-transforming because the biblical Word we hear is “not a human word but . . . truly is the Word of God” (see 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
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Ordinary human language, no matter how beautiful or persuasive, could never communicate God’s grace. It can’t make us holy or bring us to “share in the divine nature” (see 2 Peter 1:4).
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Only the sacred speech of God can perform the divine action of transforming bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord. Only the sacred speech of God can bring us into communion with the living God.
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In God’s plan of salvation, the Bible leads us to the Liturgy. In the Liturgy, the written text of sacred Scripture becomes living Word.
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The Bible’s meaning and purpose is fulfilled in the Mass - the words of Scripture become “spirit and life . . . the words of eternal life” (see John 6:63,68).
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Here’s the question again:

Why is the Bible alone able to give the Mass its life-transforming power?
 
In other words, the Eucharist, which is Christ, and the Word of God, which is Christ, reveal each other. The power of the Eucharist is revealed in scripture, and the power of Scripture is revealed in the Eurcharist.

I think this is what Scott Hahn is getting at.
 
Another thought also: Christ communes with us in two specific ways. Through Scripture, which is the Word, which is Christ himself, and then also through the Eucharist, which is Christ made present through bread and wine. And both of these communions with Christ give witness to each other, they testify to each other.

Does that make sense?
 
I still don’t understand why does it say the Bible alone gives Mass its life transforming power? Does the Mass receive its power from the Bible?

Is it saying that Eucharist is not life changing without the liturgy of the word? As far as the sacred words of the consecration (found in the account of the Last Supper), didn’t the apostles use these before they were recorded in scripture? In that case, wouldn’ t the Mass actually birth the scripture?
 
What he is saying is that the Liturgy is the Word of God spoken, which *is the power * that transforms the bread and wine. It is the Sacred Word or speech or communication of God alone that provides the power, it is not the priest, he is just the conduit.
 
Okay, I’m working on this. But, it is not just the words. I couldn’t speak the words and make the Eucharist. It must rest on the Church.

Thanks for your patience.
 
No, you are right, it is not just the words. It is The Word, spoken by the priest, acting in the stead of Christ, being the conduit for Christ, to effect the change of the bread and wine. The priest is ordained to stand in Christ’s stead, speaking the very words of Christ that were spoken at the last supper.

The key is that the power is in the Word (Christ in Scripture), spoken by the Word (Christ through his priest).

At least this is what I am understanding Hahn to saying. I have heard him speak on this and I’m pretty sure I am getting the gist of it here.
 
So, Hahn is referring specifically to the words of consecration?

Or, is he saying the liturgy of the word is necessary for the Eucharist to transform us.

Or both?
 
Both.

The Bible says that Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

The Eucharist is what it is by the consecration of the Word.

So the whole Mass, both in proclaimation of the Word which gives us the grace of Faith, and the consecration of the Eucharist by the Word, which gives us Christ himself, have the power to change lives. They work together.
 
When Hahn talks about the Salvation history coming together in the mass, here is what he means.

First God revealed himself to mankind through the Word, both spoken and written, it was the only communication or revelation of God by which mankind could find salvation.

Then God revealed himself by making his presence reality to us in the flesh and blood through his incarnation, Christ. The Word became Flesh.

In the Mass we have both phases of this revelation, a completeness so to speak. The Word proclaimed and the Presence given. They both reveal each other and complete each other, it all comes together in the Mass.
 
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PaulDupre:
Jeanette, you gave me chills. Thanks.
Paul
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I got chills when I was typing it. Sometimes the Lord gives us a fresh taste of himself when we least expect it. Taste and see that the Lord is Good!
 
I accept that the Bible is essential to the Mass, but I still don’t see why it alone gives its life transforming power. However,
perhaps it is nitpicking. So, I’ll let it go.

Sometimes a question takes a hold of me and consumes my thoughts. I think I am partially satisfied, so I’ll try to let it go. Thanks, Jeanette!
 
JMJ Theresa:
I accept that the Bible is essential to the Mass, but I still don’t see why it alone gives its life transforming power. However,
perhaps it is nitpicking. So, I’ll let it go.

Sometimes a question takes a hold of me and consumes my thoughts. I think I am partially satisfied, so I’ll try to let it go. Thanks, Jeanette!
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Just one more try and then I’ll let it go also! 🙂

I think you’re getting stuck because you’re thinking of the Bible as a document, and not as the Living Word, or as Christ himself. It is not the same issue as “Bible Alone” Christians, who see the Bible as sole authority without the Church in matters of Doctrine or Discipline. These are two separate issues. Christ gave us Himself through the Scriptures to guide us, plus he gave us the Church and her Tradition which was passed on from the beginning, acting in his stead as AUTHORITY in all these matters.

What Hahn is saying, is that ALL Scripture is the Living Word, which is Christ. And it is Christ who has the POWER to transform lives in the Mass, both through the proclaimation of the Word (himself) in the Liturgy and the Consecration, and in the giving of the Eucharist (himself). So it is ALL done through Christ, by Christ, with the priest acting in his stead.

So Hahn is not presenting a BIBLE ALONE theology as you are used to hearing it concerning Church Authority. He is presenting the Word (Christ) as the Transforming Power.

Does this make sense?
 
Dear JMJ Th.

Your quotation from Hahn doesn’t say that the Bible alone is such and such.

It’s hard to improve on what Jeanette said, maybe I’ll try some different words, the words that make sense in my head.

Instead of Bible, I’d suggest you give that ‘power’ to the Word of God, which is what the Bible is. So, it’s the “Word of God” which gives the Mass its power. It may seem that Hahn is saying something else, but I think that is what he is saying.

In a different book, Pathways in Scripture by Fr. Damasus Winzen, he says that God’s Word has been expressed
  1. in creation, “Let there be light” (for example)
  2. in writing, God gave us a covenant that was written in the form of the Old Testament writing, to express His Words and Will.
  3. in Jesus Christ. Consider the first chapter of the gospel according to John “The Word was made flesh.”
and I would add
  1. in the Eucharist. Jesus said “this is my body … this is my blood” The Word of God is expressed in the Eucharist, and the Eucharist is a liturgy (as Hahn points out).
So, if you follow this, there is a seamless connection between the Word of God and the liturgy of the Mass. I don’t know if I really know what I’m saying here, but I’d put my understanding this way: The Word of God and the liturgy of the Mass are the same thing.
 
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Crumpy:
Dear JMJ Th.

So, if you follow this, there is a seamless connection between the Word of God and the liturgy of the Mass. I don’t know if I really know what I’m saying here, but I’d put my understanding this way: The Word of God and the liturgy of the Mass are the same thing.
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You do really know what you are saying, Crumpy. Nail hit directly on the head! 👍

When Catholics hear Bible “alone” or “only”, it tends to automatically raise a red flag, especially if it comes from a Protestant convert! 😉

I don’t think Hahn was going in that direction at all.
 
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