My story (part VIII)

Here are the links to the first seven parts if you'd like to check them out:

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII


Okay, so the video. Here's the gist of it (Lord, help me be brief (and accurate)!!):

Dr. Pitre begins with a question:

"How is it that the first generation of Christians, who were Jewish, how did the come to believe so quickly and widely in the Real Presence?"

(so forgive me here. this video is primarily for Catholics. Catholics believe in the "Real Presence" that Jesus Himself is actually present in the Eucharist)

Furthermore, how could this possibly happen when Jews were expressly forbidden to drink the blood of any creature? (in Levitical laws, I believe)

Dr. Pitre proposes that:

It was precisely their Jewish faith that laid the foundation. Jesus fulfilled their Jewish hopes. 

Then he presents three key concepts from Jewish history that would predispose the Jewish people to the acceptance of the Real Presence in the bread and the wine.

1. The Passover (Exodus 12)

2. Manna (Exodus 16)

3. Bread of the Presence ("Showbread")  (Leviticus 24)

Dr. Pitre begins tackling the first item by asking this question:  "What were the first century Christians waiting for in the Messiah?
"
Most of us would answer: "A political Messiah"

Dr. Pitre says that yes, there is some truth to that but what they were actually waiting for was "The New Exodus."  They were waiting for a new Moses of sorts. A modern day Moses to lead them out of Roman oppression and domination.

Just as when the Hebrew people were delivered from bondage to the Egyptians, so the Jewish  people were also waiting for a deliverance (an exodus) from the bondage of Roman rule.  In the first exodus they had a deliverer (Moses), they journeyed for 40 years, they worshiped in the tabernacle, and their destination was Jerusalem.  The first exodus began with  the Passover (the angel "passed over"). Remember the last of the plages?  For the people to be saved from the "angel of death" during that night (the Passover) the Jewish people had to complete exactly these rituals:

-the father had to take a lamb, kill it, and put the blood on the doorposts
-then the family had to eat the flesh of the lamb

Interestingly, this ritual has been come tradition in Jewish homes for thousands of years. During the Passover meal a child in the family asks "Why is this night different from all other nights?"

The father replies "It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt."

So all through history since the first Passover, Jewish people have always met for a Passover meal and have given thanks for what "the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt." By the way, what does "Eucharist" mean? To give thanks.

Dr. Pitre's proposition makes sense to me. These early Christians saw the echo of their long history in the person of Jesus. Many (not all) saw in Jesus the fulfillment of Jewish hopes.

In the new exodus Jesus is baptized and comes out of the Jordan River (picturing the Hebrews crossing the Red Sea), except instead of the waters parting, this time the heavens open.  Jesus feeds the people with bread in the wilderness (remember Moses with manna). Jesus has a forty day testing period in the wilderness. Today the host (the sacred bread of the Eucharist) is kept in the tabernacle. And now, the destination is heaven, the "new Jerusalem."

During the Passover meal Jesus shares with his disciples just before his death, he doesn't follow the normal ritual that the Jewish people have kept for thousands of years. He transforms it into the new Passover. He is the lamb.  Just as the Passover meal was the beginning of the exodus from the oppression, so this meal, the Eucharist is the meal of the new exodus.  Paul says in I Corinthians,"Christ our pascal (passover) lamb has been sacrificed."

If Jesus is the new Moses, what food will he give for the journey?

God provided manna in the wilderness for the Jewish people. He "rained down bread from heaven for you." (Exodus 16)  The manna that God provided for the Hebrew nation in the wilderness rained down from heaven; it was miraculous.

In the new testament Jesus taught the disciples this prayer:

"Our Father who art in heaven. . . give us this day our daily bread."

We translate "daily bread" from the Greek word, Epiousios, which literally means "super essential bread."  When Jesus said those words to his disciples, they would have automatically thought of manna. So what is this super essential bread that we are to pray for?

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:48-51)

Like we all probably would, the Jewish people grumbled "What? How can you give us your flesh to eat?"  Dr. Pitre jokingly says that Jesus responds by saying "Amen, amen, I was only speaking metaphorically."  

Seriously, did Jesus speak like he meant this as a metaphor? How does he answer their murmuring question?  He makes it even clearer. He spells it out!

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."  (John 6:53-54)

The third example from Jewish scripture and tradition, The Bread of the Presence (many might remember it as "Showfar") is compelling as well. I know these posts of mine have been quite long, so I'm thinking I won't continue on with the last example from Scripture and Tradition showing what Jesus meant the Eucharist (communion) to be: a life-giving meal for his followers. If you would like me to share the last point, feel free to comment in the com-box or send me an email. Otherwise you could always watch the video or just fast forward the video past 40 minutes or so.  

Suffice it to say, I'm convinced.  I see God's faithful and enduring love throughout history as recorded in the Bible and passed on through tradition. The Eucharist has me hooked. I see God's radical love in sending His Son to die for us in 33 AD  but also by sending His Son each and every time we receive communion in the Mass. I don't see that he would send miraculous bread from heaven in the old testament but then would send merely symbol (or sign) to us today. The new covenant is the fulfillment of the the old covenant. His love is just as great now as it ever has been. He gives us real food for the journey: Himself.  His power is just as great as well; He certainly CAN do this miracle.  I can't say that my eyes of faith are strong on this yet but I pray for a greater faith everyday.