Chapter 10 - Jesus Told Us
The Eucharist is our Righteousness, because it is by our own faith that we receive the Blessing of the Bread from Heaven. It doesn't just drop out of the sky like the manna did in the desert. We call it down from heaven, by faith. Without works, our faith is dead, but is it our own works that justify us ? No, we must do the works of God. The Eucharist is the work of God.
"I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Mathew 5 : 20 Sitting in a pew does not get us to heaven !
Faith in Jesus isn't a one time, I believe, and then we go on with our lives. Every day, we must display a faith through a work that topples the world, and .... the worldly church. And that is accomplished by the work of the Eucharist.
In so doing, we fulfill what Jesus promised : "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10 : 10 Why is there "life", and then, in addition, "abundant life" ? Perhaps Jesus is saying, there is salvation, a belief that Jesus is Messiah, but then there is an abundant life on earth which we are to live out every day, via the Eucharist. As surely as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish, surely we are to produce the Eucharist as often as we need, even, daily.
This was the moment in which I understood something beautiful. Our Lord Jesus, in His generosity, gave us the Lord's prayer, and the Lord's supper. Actually, they both speak of the same thing - the Eucharist !
In one Jesus says, "This bread is My body, which will be given up for you." And in the others He says, "Give us this day, our daily bread." Jesus Himself is instructing us to receive our daily bread, the Eucharist, and He made sure to teach us and show us, the simple but powerful prayers we would need after He rose to Heaven.
And suddenly, I read Paul with different eyes. I began to appreciate him as my ally in the defense of the Eucharistic Gospel ! Read what Pauls says -
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us ; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you, neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought, but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you ; not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." 2 Thessalonians 3 : 6-12
I never caught this until now. Paul is lamenting the busybodies, who are disorderly, and never work. They should not eat. Huh ? I thought a busybody was precisely someone who worked a lot ? Shouldn't a busy worker have the right to eat ? But Paul isn't talking about worldly work. He is referring to the work of our faith to produce the Eucharist, which we eat. I will stand on the just mentioned chapter of Paul's 2nd letter to the Thessalonians in response to anyone, of any Church, that claims the Eucharist is only a symbol. As if John 6 wasn't already a perfect justification.
Again, in the Gospels, even our Lord Jesus cautions against the constant busybody work, and admonishes us to pay attention to the greater work in the Spirit accomplished in us via the Eucharist.
"Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Mathew 23 : 26-28
Everyone participates, in communion, and everyone determines whether they themselves go hungry or not, believing or not in the real Body and Blood of Christ.
This is the scriptural overthrow of the New Testament priesthood. But, it is also the restoration of the blessing of the Eucharist to ALL God's children. The rightful place of each man, and each woman, side by side, at the Table of Blessing, the Eucharist. A male dominated, hierarchical church, regardless of its denomination, is not a reflection of God's Will. Here is God's will for His children :
"Trust ye in the Lord for ever ; for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength, for he bringeth down them that dwell on high ; the lofty city, he layeth it low ; he layeth it low, even to the ground ; he bringeth it even to the dust. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy." Isaiah 26 : 4-6
Brothers and sisters, take back your church. it belongs to you. As much as a wife belongs to his husband, the church belongs to you, because you are the church ! And the Eucharist, alongside the Word of God, is the great liberation of God's Kingdom.
