The Eucharistic Sacrifice of Jesus

By Christopher Anandappa

This book is original and much is a result of reflective enraptured listening to many scholars and reflective reading of books by scholars on the subject. All the above people have shown me that the Eucharist is something very special and that it is not just a cult, but a celebration of ‘self giving’ , as Jesus said, “ This is my Body given up for you.” “DO this in memory of me”

50% of the proceeds will be donated to Catholic Relief Organizations.

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Christopher Anandappa was a popular weekly writer for the Catholic
Universe Newspaper before its demise, so I was thrilled when he
agreed to write for the newly launched Universe Catholic Weekly.
Through his regular weekly page focusing on the present state and
future of the Catholic Church he has been and is one of our most
valued contributors and a great boost to our letters page!
Christopher has also helped countless readers to come to a deeper
understanding of their faith and to define the role of the Church
in their lives.

Reading Christopher’s work is always a spiritually enriching
experience and invariably broadens horizons whilst challenging
views and concepts to the core.
This book is no exception and I have great pleasure in
commending it to readers for a deeper understanding of the Eucharist.
Michael Winterbottom,
Managing Editorial Director
Universe Catholic Weekly

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press UK
• Release date: Mar 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781982285036

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 Christopher Anandappa.

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ISBN: 978-1-9822-8502-9 (sc)

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Balboa Press rev. date: 03/11/2022

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 ‘Sacrifice’ its emergence and meaning

Chapter 2 The Problem Of Sacrifice

Chapter 3 The Death of Jesus - Roman and Jewish charge

Chapter 4 The death of Jesus: His intention

Chapter 5 The Sacrifice of Jesus

Chapter 6 Eucharist - the Sacrificial, Memorial Meal of the Church

Notes Chapter 1

Notes Chapter 2

Notes Chapter 3

Notes Ch.4

Notes. Ch. 5

Notes Ch. 6

Conclusion

Bibliography

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EUCHARISTIC

SACRIFICE OF

JESUS

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am dedicating this book to my late grandfather, Mr. Christopher Laity Ramanaden, and the late Reverend Patrick Fitzgerald, SSS, who have guided me in my preparation for Religious Life as my vocation. Through them I discovered in a special way what it means to live a life dedicated to the Eucharist, putting into effect the supreme example of Christ’s Sacrifice of his life for the good of others.

I would like to express my thanks first of all to three professors who were very much responsible in helping me think and reflect on the meaning of the Eucharist as stated in the pages of this book: Doing my Maters in Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago, Reverend Tom Reynolds, S.S, at the Institute of Pastoral Studies, introduced me to a deep study of the historical Jesus. The vast literature which he set before me, helped me tremendously in my research. Reverend Kevin Shea, CSsR led us in a seminar on the Beginnings of the Church and the Eucharist, at Retreats International at the University of Notre Dame. His insights were so enlightening that he confirmed many of my findings on the Eucharist in the early church. Canon John Fenton at the University of Oxford, placed the seal so to speak on this final research on the historical Jesus and the meaning of his death. This work being a partial fulfillment of my Doctor of Ministry Degree, I am particularly grateful to the staff and faculty of the Graduate Theological Foundation and Foundation House Oxford, England, who have guided me in my study. I also owe a depth of thanks to Mrs. Margie Benge, a former executive and administrative secretary for Exxon, who edited most of my work in an act of sheer charity being one of my parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrows, Jacksonville, Texas. Although I am responsible for all that follows, in a book of this sort little is truly original and much is a result of reflective enraptured listening to many scholars and reflective reading of books by scholars on the subject. All the above people have shown me that the Eucharist is something very special and that it is not just a cult, but a celebration of ‘self-giving’, as Jesus said, This is my Body given up for you. "DO this as a memorial of me." (Lk 22:19)

INTRODUCTION

None of us decided to be born into this world. If so, Why do I exist? and How shall I live the life I have? These are the questions that religions(1) try to answer. In their attempts to say how a person ought to live or what is right to do, all organized religions place many different obligations on their followers. More strikingly, since these religions began at various times and in various geographical and cultural locations, none of these religions have been known by all human beings in all places and at all times on earth. However, there is only one religion which is known by all humankind. It is none but the religion of Jesus, a religion that places some obligations (duties) on every human person.

Sadly in the 4th century, with the Emperor Constantine, there developed an organized religion, called Christianity, based on theological theories ‘about Jesus’ which had very little to do with the ‘religion of Jesus.’ Most importantly and tragically the theology of the ‘Sacrifice’ of Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist is founded on this religion about Jesus. So what was the ‘sacrifice’ of Jesus in the Eucharist? This is what I wish to expound in the following pages. First of all, to better understand this concept, here is a short description of the life of Jesus and His purpose here on earth.

Jesus was considered a religious heretic by the leaders of the organized religion in his time and place. In his day, Judaism had accumulated a complex structure of religious obligations that were placed on Jews. The religion of Jesus reduced these obligations to two: love for God and love for neighbor. Jesus referred to these two obligations as God’s commandments (laws) or God’s word (truth). Jesus taught that these two obligations are known by everyone because they are planted like a seed sown in the heart This is well explained in the parable of the sower. (Matthew 13:18-23). Jesus was also asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, he gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, Look here! Look there! For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you"’ (Lk.17:20-21). This religion, as taught by Jesus, is based on these two natural laws that are inherent in human nature. Violation of these two laws by anyone is life-destructive. Obedience to these two laws is life-giving. This is known through human experience.

What Jesus meant by love for God and love for neighbor is defined by Jesus in his sermon on the mount and his parables. Jesus believed that it was his mission, and ours, to establish the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus used the term kingdom of God to refer to the rule of God’s laws in the lives of individuals and in human society.

A question that we need to ask is, ‘Why did he speak about the ‘Kingdom of God?’ The consensus of Biblical scholarship is of the opinion that the kingdom of God, was the central focus of his life and teaching. He said that the Kingdom of God was already here and people were called to make it happen. The way Jesus lived his life, specifically, what he said and did, revealed God’s rule for all who had ears to hear and eyes to see. He declared this good news in the