Last Supper Question

[pira114]

During the Last Supper, Jesus said “do this in memory of me.”

When did he ever say “do this in memory of me unless you’re not perfect?”

Or,

“Do this in memory of me as long as you have fulfilled certain obligations. If you have not, then forget about it?”

Obviously, I’m talking about the Sacraments. Why do we tell people they cannot receive the Sacraments if they have or have not done certain things? Would Jesus refuse a sinner to his table? I’m looking for Scriptural support for these practices, not rules, regulations, and laws.

I hope the way I presented this question does not offend anyone. It’s just something that has bothered me for a long time, and I never get straight answers from people on this subject.

 

[thistle]

pira114:

During the Last Supper, Jesus said “do this in memory of me.”

When did he ever say “do this in memory of me unless you’re not perfect?”

Or,

“Do this in memory of me as long as you have fulfilled certain obligations. If you have not, then forget about it?”

Obviously, I’m talking about the Sacraments. Why do we tell people they cannot receive the Sacraments if they have or have not done certain things? Would Jesus refuse a sinner to his table? I’m looking for Scriptural support for these practices, not rules, regulations, and laws.

I hope the way I presented this question does not offend anyone. It’s just something that has bothered me for a long time, and I never get straight answers from people on this subject.

1 Corinthians 11:27 "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord."

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

pira114:

During the Last Supper, Jesus said “do this in memory of me.”

When did he ever say “do this in memory of me unless you’re not perfect?”

Or,

“Do this in memory of me as long as you have fulfilled certain obligations. If you have not, then forget about it?”

Obviously, I’m talking about the Sacraments. Why do we tell people they cannot receive the Sacraments if they have or have not done certain things? Would Jesus refuse a sinner to his table? I’m looking for Scriptural support for these practices, not rules, regulations, and laws.

I hope the way I presented this question does not offend anyone. It’s just something that has bothered me for a long time, and I never get straight answers from people on this subject.

Matthew 7:6

The term dog to a Jew was refering to those who were not welcome in the community, those who were considered unclean. Even though they might be Jews by birth or conversion.

Christ is speaking to his Apostles when refering to “Do this…”

Matthew 22:8-14 reminds us that to sit at the banquet table our souls must be properly dressed.

 

[cameron_lansing]

**

1 Corinthians 11:27 "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily

will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord."**

Well, yes, Thistle. So far, so good.

But I think it would be more useful to cite the context of the rather bare verse. “Therefore” is the conclusion of something Paul has said and developed. We need to know what that is in order to give proper understanding and meaning to this verse. So, what are those verses? What was he writing about?

We will benefit from having you consider those for us. Perhaps, you might be kind enough to do that. In the context of this discussion, this will help in understanding what “unworthily” might mean.

 

[thistle]

****

Well, yes, Thistle. So far, so good.

But I think it would be more useful to cite the context of the rather bare verse. “Therefore” is the conclusion of something Paul has said and developed. We need to know what that is in order to give proper understanding and meaning to this verse. So, what are those verses? What was he writing about?

We will benefit from having you consider those for us. Perhaps, you might be kind enough to do that. In the context of this discussion, this will help in understanding what “unworthily” might mean.

That was in response for a scripture source to your question:

Why do we tell people they cannot receive the Sacraments if they have or have not done certain things?

It seems pretty obvious to me that “unworthily” means in a state of sin.

 

[cameron_lansing]

thistle:

That was in response for a scripture source to your question: Why do we tell people they cannot receive the Sacraments if they have or have not done certain things? It seems pretty obvious to me that “unworthily” means in a state of sin.

Well, it’s up to you to elaborate or not, as I was merely inviting you to do so since I thought we would benefit from some further insights from you. At least I think you’re an insightful poster. And yes, what is obvious is obvious. However I wasn’t the one who posed the question.

The passage can be referenced easily at usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians11.htm. Some of the footnotes are useful toward the topic. They help toward an understanding of the intention that is required for worthy participation in the Eucharist, even aside from questions of sin. There is a clear focus on belief, unity, charity which have been injured due to a contempt for the Church of God.

Bro. Rich has also pointed toward excellent lines of thought by associating the Eucharist with the Messianic Banquet of the Kingdom.

In examining this passage, Catholic scripture scholarship has noted that when Paul writes, “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,” he is referencing what he has received from the Church itself. This conclusion is reached on the basis of Paul’s conversion story in which he hears the Risen Lord equate himself with his Body the Church (a prominent Pauline theme), in “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

If this train of thought is followed, then the intimate and inextricable connnection of Church and Scripture has to enter the discussion. Scripture alone will be insufficient to properly answer the question, despite the way in which you (pira114) have posed it.

This means we must look to the Church and its Sacred Tradition and how it understands the Eucharist in terms of its very identity as not only the Body and Blood of Christ but also as the sacrament of unity of Christ, his Body the Church, and its members.

Surely the question of serious sin has to enter the equation, since it is separation from both Christ and his Body. But given the whole context of Paul, a basis is given for things like why the Church normally restricts the reception of communion to Catholics or in fact, places any of the rules or regulations that it does.

Maybe this close connection of Christ, Church, and Sacraments is worth exploration to understand why the rules or regulations.

 

[Joysong]

Dear Pira,

Lev. 7:19, “All who are clean may partake of this flesh. If however, someone while in a state of unlceanness eats any of the flesh of a peace offering belonging to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.”

From the very beginning, God instructed Moses how to set up the entire system of liturgical practice. We should not forget that, even today, God the Holy Spirit is the Divine Author of liturgy. (See Ex. 25:8-10)
God taught the people what sin was, what offends Him, and how to be restored to His friendship through sacrificial offerings, which made them “clean.”

It is no different today, except that the sacrificial victim (prefigured in the O.T.) is Christ Himself, whom we may not take in communion unless we are “clean.”

Carole

 

[pira114]

Thank you all very much. These answers are pretty much what I was looking for. You’ve given me a great place to start reading and researching on my own. No matter how many times I’ve read the Bible, I can never really remember where to find certain things. Not that I’ve read it a hundred times, but over the years it’s been a couple of times.

Again, thank you.