Bu let me say that here we solidly agree: there is no "repeat sacrifice."
There is but one sacrifice: "the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev 13:8) It happened outside of time, transcending time: it is timeless. That same sacrifice is the one of which Jesus spoke when he said "This is My Body, broken for you," "This is my Blood," --- either He means that, or He means nothing.
It was His body broken and His blood shed at Calvary --- same sacrifice, Thursday in an unbloody manner, Friday in a bloody manner. This morning at 7:30 a.m. in my parish --- same sacrifice--- one Bread, one Body, one Lord, one High Priest who is Jesus Christ Himself.
We're not like Civil War Reenactors, shooting off something that's all bang and no bullet. ... "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?"
If this is not real, then nothing is real. "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."
Back to raking leaves! :o)
"If this is not real, then nothing is real. "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.""
Absolutely! But, as I said before, it is a mile wide leap from Jesus saying this to the ritual of a special man being designated to take bread and wine, lift the chalice or loaf up, speak words and have those words/his office/the act transubstantiate the elements into the real body & and blood of Jesus.
If He meant it to constitute a directive to begin such a ritual, then what do we do with "I am the door." "I am the shepherd" "I am the sheepgate"? Do we have a special man stand before a door and speak words to transform it into Jesus? Please notice that is precisely what is taking place in the so-called "eucharist".
But, the distinctions between us continue. Whence cometh faith? To the Catholic (correct me if I am wrong, please), faith is that act of trust initiated by the petitioner. It derives from a free will which is able to choose or reject Jesus. This is what makes salvation "just". Those who choose are rewarded with salvation; those who reject get their just desserts. God is calling to all men, but only those who bend their will respond. But, this is a derivation of men.
Those clinging to the message of the Scriptures, alone, find Paul saying, "So then it does not depend upon the man who chooses or the man who acts, but upon God...And He will have mercy upon whom He has mercy, and harden whom He desires." Such claims nullifies the effects of relying upon the sacraments...and really anything a man claims to bring about his salvation. In the Scriptures, men are not the gatekeepers, God is. This severely collides with Rome's additions to the Gospel.