(Audio)
They all ate and were satisfied.
And yet even those who ate the bread were hungry again. Those who ate the manna in the desert were hungry again. These things pointed forward. They were archetypes of what was to come.
In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine,
and being a priest of God Most High,
Melchizedek pointed forward to the one whose priesthood would abide forever. His bread and wine pointed toward the one who would offer something more than bread and wine, yet under those appearances.
Jesus is the one whose priesthood and whose kingship have no end. He is the one who offers the perfect sacrifice aside from which no sacrifice is needed. He is the one who gives us the true food from heaven which satisfies for all eternity.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
The bread Jesus gives is his flesh for the life of the world. The wine he gives is his precious blood poured out for all of us. His death on the cross would have seemed to be a mere execution apart from the Eucharist which revealed it to be the true and final Passover sacrifice.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
We know that the Passover of Jesus conquers sin and death. In order for us to share in this victory we too must keep the feast.
For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival (see First Corinthians 5:7-8).
Our participation in this sacrifice is more than ritual. It is how we share in the benefits of the victory won for us by Jesus himself. And this, not just once, but any time we choose to receive him. His sacrificial gift is present throughout time until he comes.
Let us keep the feast! We receive in the mode of the receiver. This means that the more we prepare our hearts to receive the living, real, bodily presence of Jesus, the more grace will fill our hearts when we do receive him.
You who all things can and know,
Who on earth such food bestow,
Grant us with your saints, though lowest,
Where the heav'nly feast you show,
Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.
No comments:
Post a Comment