And in the midst of disagreement, unity! And, of all things, concerning the Supper! Get that, friends, and understand now why Lutherans could say many hard things concerning Roman Catholicism and yet still grant that believers could be nurtured within the Roman Pontiffs reign.... Heres from Article X, Of the Holy Supper: The Tenth Article has been approved [by the Roman Catholics, ed.], in which we confess that we believe, that in the Lords Supper the body and blood of Christ are truly and substantially present, and are truly tendered, with those things which are seen, bread and wine, to those who receive the Sacrament. This belief we constantly defend, as the subject has been carefully examined and considered. For since Paul says, 1 Cor. 10:16, that the bread is the communion of the Lords body, etc., it would follow, if the Lords body were not truly present, that the bread is not a communion of the body, but only of the spirit of Christ. And we have ascertained that not only the Roman Church affirms the bodily presence of Christ, but the Greek Church also both now believes, and formerly believed, the same.... Vulgarius [Theophylact of Bulgaria, 1055-1107 AD, ed.], who seems to us to be not a silly writer, says distinctly that bread is not a mere figure, but is truly changed into flesh. And there is a long exposition of Cyril on John 15, in which he teaches that Christ is corporeally offered us in the Supper. For he says thus: Nevertheless, we do not deny that we are joined spiritually to Christ by true faith and sincere love. But that we have no mode of connection with Him, according to the flesh, this indeed we entirely deny. And this, we say, is altogether foreign to the divine Scriptures. For who has doubted that Christ is in this manner a vine, and we the branches, deriving thence life for ourselves? Hear Paul saying 1 Cor. 10:17; Rom. 12:5; Gal. 3:28: We are all one body in Christ; although we are many, we are, nevertheless, one in Him; for we are, all partakers of that one bread. Does he perhaps think that the virtue of the mystical benediction is unknown to us? Since this is in us, does it not also, by the communication of Christs flesh, cause Christ to dwell in us bodily? And a little after: Whence we must consider that Christ is in us not only according to the habit, which we call love, but also by natural participation, etc. We have cited these testimonies, not to undertake a discussion here concerning this subject, for His Imperial Majesty does not disapprove of this article, but in order that all who may read them may the more clearly perceive that we defend the doctrine received in the entire Church, that in the Lords Supper the body and blood of Christ are truly and substantially present, and are truly tendered with those things which are seen, bread and wine. And we speak of the presence of the living Christ [living body]; for we know that death hath no more dominion over Him, Rom. 6:9. (Apology X.54-57) The living Christ - thats what is offered in the Holy Supper, and we dare not pass by that mystery too quickly! You see, when we eat bread or drink wine under ordinary circumstances, we are consuming dead (albeit, organic) things. And, if you are a meat-eater, or have a culinary bent toward blood-pudding or blutwurst (saints, preserve us!) - you are still consuming dead things. Yet in this sacrament, the living Jesus gives you His Body and His Blood - which are very much alive, as death has no dominion over Him. Therefore you are, quite literally, partaking of His life - Him Whose life is eternal, pure, holy, and life-giving. Can we praise this gift enough? Can we know sufficient awe in its presence? Rejoice, you! Here is life and salvation - all wrapped up with mercy, grace and forgiveness - so that you might share in it.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:09:32 +0000
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