Relationship between Eucharist and Resurrection

[jkiernan56]

I have been discussing on another thread “what is the central truth of Christianity.” This discussion has led me to start this new thread and ask the question -

Would we have the Eucharist if Christ did not rise from the dead?

My answer is that the Eucharist IS the risen Lord (body, blood, soul, and divinity). If Christ had not risen from the dead, we would NOT have the Eucharist. The Eucharist and the Resurrection point to the same reality - the Risen Lord !!!

The Good News that the disciples proclaimed after the Resurrection is that Christ is ALIVE!!! He is Risen!!! This truth I believe PRECEDES the Eucharist. Like the horse that should come BEFORE the cart, the truth about the Resurrection comes before the truth of the Eucharist.

 

[NHInsider]

I recall some discussion in a theology class eons ago about the nature of the Eucharistic elements shared by those in the Upper Room at the Institution. Did they consume the Resurrected Body and Blood, although in time the Resurrection had not taken place, because the realities of the Faith exist in Eternity? Or did they consume the as-yet-uncrucified Body and Blood?

And what of the food of the angels? And what did Melchizedek give to Abram?

Obviously none of this answers your question directly, but they are thoughts generated by the inquiry.

As to the actual question, I think it is moot. If Jesus were not resurrected, none of the rest of our Faith would have any validity at all. (See I Cor. 15:17).

 

[jkiernan56]

I recall some discussion in a theology class eons ago about the nature of the Eucharistic elements shared by those in the Upper Room at the Institution. Did they consume the Resurrected Body and Blood, although in time the Resurrection had not taken place, because the realities of the Faith exist in Eternity? Or did they consume the as-yet-uncrucified Body and Blood?

And what of the food of the angels? And what did Melchizedek give to Abram?

Obviously none of this answers your question directly, but they are thoughts generated by the inquiry.

As to the actual question, I think it is moot. If Jesus were not resurrected, none of the rest of our Faith would have any validity at all. (See I Cor. 15:17).

Thank you for contribution. You said it very well.

For me, the Eucharist at the Last Supper is the same Risen Lord that we receive today. All the other ways the Lord fed his people in the Old Testament were a prefigurement of the Eucharist - but were not the real thing.

 

[Eucharisted]

We would not have the Eucharist if Christ had not died and risen, nor would Christ have died and risen if there was no Eucharist. He is, after all, the High Priest and Lamb of God.

As for the question of whether the Apostles ate Jesus risen or Jesus yet-to-be-risen, the Immaculate Conception answers that.

 

[jkiernan56]

We would not have the Eucharist if Christ had not died and risen, nor would Christ have died and risen if there was no Eucharist. He is, after all, the High Priest and Lamb of God.

As for the question of whether the Apostles ate Jesus risen or Jesus yet-to-be-risen, the Immaculate Conception answers that.

I am with you on the Immaculate Conception.
I don’t know if I agree on the point you made that “nor would Christ have died and risen if there was no Eucharist”. That seems to me to place the Eucharist as a separate reality from the Resurrection (the Risen Lord).

 

[davidv]

I am with you on the Immaculate Conception.
I don’t know if I agree on the point you made that “nor would Christ have died and risen if there was no Eucharist”. That seems to me to place the Eucharist as a separate reality from the Resurrection (the Risen Lord).

I am confused by this. How does Mary’s sinless conception address the last supper question?

 

[jkiernan56]

I am confused by this. How does Mary’s sinless conception address the last supper question?

Mary was saved at her Conception by the merits of Christ’s sacrifice. His sacrifice transcends time.

The Resurrected Christ was present in the Eucharist at the Last Supper … prior to the Resurrection.

 

[davidv]

Mary was saved at her Conception by the merits of Christ’s sacrifice. His sacrifice transcends time.

The Resurrected Christ was present in the Eucharist at the Last Supper … prior to the Resurrection.

Thanks.

 

[juniorapologist]

jkeirnan56,

I answer with the words of the blessed apostle Paul.

12 Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14* if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18* Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.

So, the answer is that if there was no resurrection, there is no Eucharist. If there is no resurrection our whole faith is futile. Without the resurrection, Christianity ceases to exist.

Blessings,
J.A.

 

[Nita]

For me, the Eucharist at the Last Supper is the same Risen Lord that we receive today.

I agree with you and think Scripture supports such a conclusion. At the Last Supper Jesus told the apostles to “Do THIS in remembrance of Me” (Lk 22:19). If it was not His risen, immortal body and blood at the Last Supper when Jesus gave this instruction, then what the apostles did in remembrance afterwards would not have been “THIS”, but would have been something different.

 

[teachccd]

I agree with you and think Scripture supports such a conclusion. At the Last Supper Jesus told the apostles to “Do THIS in remembrance of Me” (Lk 22:19). If it was not His risen, immortal body and blood at the Last Supper when Jesus gave this instruction, then what the apostles did in remembrance afterwards would not have been “THIS”, but would have been something different.

While I cannot remember the exact Aramaic term that Jesus said, when He said “This is my body” the word that was used for “body” meant “everything”. So, in essence, Jesus said,"this is my everything…my body, my blood, my soul and my divinity. If Jesus offered Himself as everything that He is that would have to include the resurrected Christ. So there is definitely a direct correlation between the Eucharist and the Resurrection…teachccd

 

[jkiernan56]

jkeirnan56,

I answer with the words of the blessed apostle Paul.

12 Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14* if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18* Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.

So, the answer is that if there was no resurrection, there is no Eucharist. If there is no resurrection our whole faith is futile. Without the resurrection, Christianity ceases to exist.

Blessings,
J.A.

Thank you for your thoughts. You hit the nail right on the head. The Eucharist IS the Risen Lord (the very same person the Apostles saw after His death).