This week we continue to reflect on the Sacrament of the Eucharist and consider how it anticipates eternal life. May our participation in Mass be a fervent prayer for the fullness of life in God's kingdom!
Here are the next two paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
#1326 – Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).
#1327 – In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking” (St. Irenaeus).
This next paragraph of the Catechism points us to the eschatological meaning of the Eucharist. Eschaton is a Greek word that means ‘last thing.’ Eschatological refers to the culmination of history, the fulfillment of all things, the final reality. God has revealed that the final reality will be dynamic, not static. Heaven will be participation in the eternal exchange of love of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We’ll contemplate without end God’s work of creation and salvation. Our minds will be filled with ever-new and marvelous insights into God and his work. Our emotions will overflow with joy and the security of possessing God forever. Our desires will be consumed with praising God. Our hearts will be filled with gratitude.
All of this is anticipated every time we celebrate the Eucharist. We hear God’s work in the Scriptures, as the Spirit feeds our minds with insights. Our emotions are engaged in prayers, responses, psalms, and songs. Our desires are focused to spend this time in praise and thanks to God. And our hearts are filled with joy and peace as Jesus gives himself to us in Holy Communion. It truly is a foretaste of eternal life!
When history is fulfilled, we’ll also see clearly how God has brought good out of every evil. Our minds receive enough light now to look back and see how good things come from evil. But sometimes it’s hard to see. The final reality will be completely transparent. We’ll clearly see how God’s providence has worked all things for the good of those who love him. The just will forever praise God’s fatherly goodness, while the damned will forever curse him for allowing evil at all.
Every Eucharist celebrates God’s work of bringing the greatest good out of the greatest evil. The greatest evil was that we crucified the Son of God. Yet God transformed that into the means of our reconciliation with him. Jesus willingly submitted to evil and let it do its worst on him. Then he interrupted the cycle of violence and breathed out forgiveness! Forgiveness and reconciliation with God – the greatest good – came from God’s crucifixion – our greatest evil. God’s greatness is revealed in bringing good out of evil. Even now, our wicked sins can lead to the greatest good – our repentance, forgiveness, and the grace to change. Many saints have said, ‘the conversion of a sinner is the greatest work of God!’
This is the work we celebrate and praise at every Mass. In the Book of Revelation, St. John sees heaven opened ‘on the Lord’s day,’ during the celebration of the Eucharist. He sees the martyrs, killed for their witness to Jesus, praying before God’s throne. They call upon God to bring good out of their suffering and death. They pray for us on earth, that we will remain steadfast in faith and persevere through earthly trials to the end. All those in heaven praise Jesus, the Lamb who was slain but now lives. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, he revealed God’s goodness is more powerful than evil. His love is stronger than death.
At Mass, we unite ourselves to this ‘heavenly liturgy,’ the liturgy of praise, adoration, and thanksgiving for God’s work in Jesus. St. Irenaeus is quoted in paragraph #1327 as saying: ‘Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist.’ Every moment, we can think of the Eucharist, and think of the work God accomplished in Jesus. As we endure evil, undergo sufferings, confront our weakness and sins, we can think of the Eucharist, and remember God’s work in Jesus. He brought good out of evil, and will do it again in our lives, if we remain steadfast in faith, hope, and love of God. He’ll work all things for our good and for the salvation of the world.