The Sacrifice of Christ and the Eucharist

Talk recorded at St. Thomas More, April 29th 2010.

The Sacrifice of Christ and the Eucharist

Following the conclusion of the Catechetical Institute course on ‘A Catholic Understanding of Scripture’ we decided to have a few more sessions to discuss topics of interest.

In this, we looked at some biblical texts and how they can help us to understand the meaning of the death of Jesus as a sacrifice, and how it connects with the Eucharist.

1 Corinthians 11 – why is this text familiar to us? It is the heart of all the Eucharistic Prayers

There are Institution Narratives in Matthew, Mark, Luke an 1 Corinthians, but not John. We herard the story of Jesus death during Holy Week, from the Synoptic Gospels on Passion Sunday and John on Good Friday.

Exodus 12 – description of the Passover. Jesus and his disciples were celebrating this, and Jesus transformed it into the Eucharist.

Romans 5:6-21 – What words Paul uses to describe the death of Jesus? What is the basis of Paul’s argument that Jesus’s death takes away our sins? To whom does Paul compare Jesus? What is the main point Paul is trying to make?

Connection of all these Scriptures with the liturgy of Holy Week and Easter.

Does God turn away from Jesus on the Cross, because he is so loaded with sin? No, becuse there is always unity between the members of the Trinity.

The death of Jesus in John’s Gospel.

The priesthood and sacrifice of Jesus in Hebrews. Note that is is centered upon the Day of Atonement sacrifice rather than the Passover. See Leviticus 16.

All this sacrificial language can be found in the texts of the Mass, and very often in the Biblical readings, especially the Second Readings and the Psalms.

DBS – Sirach part 2

Recorded October 27th 2008, led by Joe Garfunkel DBS – Sirach Part 2 – 10_27_2008

DBS – Sirach part 1

Recorded October 20th 2008, led by Joe Garfunkel DBS – Sirach Part 1 – 10_20_2008

DBS – Job

Recorded September 15th, 2008, led by Jim Hynes  DBS – Job – 9_15_2008

DBS – Song of Songs

Recorded February 25th 2008, led by Jim Hynes, in three parts DBS – Song of Songs 1 DBS – Song of Songs 2 DBS – Song of Songs 3

DBS – Hebrews

Recorded April 20th 2009, led by Jim Hynes DBS – Hebrews – 4_20_2009

Scripture – Session 6

Recorded on April 15th 2010.

6A – Question: what did you find most interesting in the course? What was your favorite thing that you learned? What has been the most useful? What will you use in your ministry? Cat Inst – Scripture Part 6A

6B – Discussion on the Questions. How do we make Scripture our own? e.g Daniel 14:31-42. Actualization of the Bible. Cat Inst – Scripture Part 6B

6C – Inculturation of the Bible.  Future programs at St. Thomas More: The Catholic Biblical School; The Threshold Bible Study; Six Weeks with the Bible. Optional Sessions. Cat Inst – Scripture Part 6C

Scripture – Session 5

Recorded April 8th 2010, on Fundamentalism.

5A – The Ten Points of good Biblical Interpretation. Cat Inst – Scripture – Part 5A

5B – Comments on the Ten Points. Contrast of the “Five Points of Fundamentalism” with the Nicene Creed. The Doctrine of Vicarious Expiation – a Catholic Critique. Cat Inst – Scripture – Part 5B

5C – Pastoral Drawbacks to Fundamentalism. Understanding the Bible in the Catholic Tradition.  Cat Inst – Scripture – Part 5C

WCOM Radio “Touchstones”

Not long before Easter in 2008 I received a call from Paul Nagy, who at the time hosted a radio program about local religious issues and people at WCOM radio in Carrboro, NC. Paul asked me to appear on his show and to be interviewed about my adult education work at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill, NC. I agreed, and I was interviewed just a few days after Easter.

One item I discussed was the JustFaith program at St. Thomas More, a 30 week course on Catholic Social Teaching. Paul was so interested in this that he signed up for JustFaith in August 2008 and completed the course in April 2009.  He interviewed me again a second time, just after Christmas.

Paul is a very interesting and knowledgeable fellow, and a wonderful conversation partner, so these are two very interesting interviews. The sound quality is very good for the first interview, and rather poor for the second, because of equipment failure at WCOM.

Touchstones at Easter: Touchstones – Easter 2008

Touchstones at Christmas: Touchstones – Christmas 08

The Gospel of Life

From “Hi-Life” event at Holy Infant on October 14th 2009.

Audio: Hi Life – The Gospel of Life

Powerpoint: Gospel of Life Powerpoint

I had been asked by Holy Infant Church, Durham, NC, to speak at their “HI Life” (Generations of Faith) event on the Church’s teaching on the Dignity of Human Life, as part of a series on Social Justice. My Talk is based upon Pope John Paul II’s encyclical letter “Evangelium Vitae” (The Gospel of Life) from 1995. It is a long and very rich document, and I speak only about the first two chapters.