Hey Jim,
I think the Aquinas quote is relating to the connection between the Sacraments and the Paschal mystery. Their transcendence through time(past, present, future) works in the fact that they are a participation in the very suffering,death and resurrection and ascension of Christ. The Eucharist is the most obvious since it is a re-presentation of the Paschal Mystery.
But Baptism also has signs in it that point to the Paschal Mystery. The submersion is an entrance into christ’s death and the emersion is an entrance into Christ’s resurrection. So that we participate for the first time in His death and resurrection.
We could aslo see in marriage a call to a death of ouselves for the sake of our spouse. St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians draws out this connection of spousal love to Christ’s self-giving in His Paschal Mystery.
Finally, in death we participate in our actual death and resurrection. Through hope we can see that the sacraments preapre us for these future Last things.
So past = Paschal Mystery that Christ went through
Present = We participate in that acxtual event sacramentally
Future = We look forward in hope to participating in death and resurrection actually.
At that point the sacraments no longer happen (in heaven) becuase they were signs and preparatiopn for what the saints already have. There experience of the sacred supercedes aour reality of it in the sacraments.
Just curious are you a theology student?You ask awesome questions.
