The Lamb’s Supper, Lesson 6.4

The Lamb's Supper: The Bible and the Mass

Lesson Six: Memory and Presence: Communion as the Coming of Christ

Lesson Objectives

  1. To understand the deep biblical foundations of Jesus’ command that the Eucharist be celebrated “in memory of Me.”
  2. To see how Scripture portrays Jesus as the Passover Lamb and how that portrayal is reflected in the Mass.
  3. To understand the Eucharist as parousia, the “coming” of Christ, and as the “daily bread” we pray for in the Our Father.

IV. Study Questions

1. What does it mean in the Old Testament when God is said to "remember"?
2. What did Israel remember in its ritual worship?
3. Explain how Israel's remembrance of its covenant brought the people into a mysterious sharing of the covenant made with their ancestors.
4. How and why does the New Testament describe Christ as a new "paschal lamb"?
5. What does parousia mean? Why do we say that the Eucharist is parousia?

For prayer and reflection:

Read Paul's warnings about the worthy reception of the Eucharist (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-32). Do you truly "discern" the body Based on what you have learned in this course? What resolutions can you make to better "discern" the body and blood of Christ when you come to Mass?

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Lesson Outline

  1. At the Last Supper
    1. Calling to Mind His Death
    2. Remembering His Covenant
  2. The Memorial Feast
    1. The Passover Remembered
    2. The New Exodus
    3. Christ, Our Paschal Lamb
  3. At the Lamb's Supper
    1. Giving Us Our Daily Bread
    2. Until He Comes Again
    3. A Share in His Body and Blood
  4. Study Questions

Other Lessons

  • Lesson One: A Biblical Introduction to the Mass
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. 1. To understand basic Catholic beliefs about the relationship between the Bible and the Liturgy.
    2. To understand the biblical basis for the Mass.
    3. To understand how in the Mass, the written text of the Bible becomes Living Word.

    Begin Lesson One

  • Lesson Two: Given for You - The Old Testament Story of Sacrifice
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand the biblical background to the Penitential Rite and the Gloria in the Mass.
    2. To understand how God is worshipped in the Old Testament.
    3. To understand the biblical notion of sacrifice as it is presented in the Old Testament.

    Begin Lesson Two

  • Lesson Three: One Sacrifice for All Time
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand the death of Jesus Christ on the cross as a sacrifice.
    2. To see the parallels between the Old Testament sacrifices and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
    3. To understand how that sacrifice is re-presented to us in the Mass.

    Begin Lesson Three

  • Lesson Four: Fulfilled in Your Hearing: The Liturgy of the Word
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand Scripture as the living Word of God.
    2. To understand the place of Scripture at the center of the liturgy.
    3. To see Scripture as an encounter with Christ, the living Word of God.
    4. To see how the Liturgy of the Word prepares us for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

    Begin Lesson Four

  • Lesson Five: Heaven On Earth: The Liturgy of the Eucharist
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand the deep biblical foundations for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
    2. To see how the Book of Revelation describes the liturgy of heaven.
    3. To understand how the Mass we celebrate on earth is a participation in the liturgy of heaven.

    Begin Lesson Five