Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

27On the Holy Eucharist 53 54Quintessence of Religious Doctrinespresent must be deemed to be divine. They are not the bodyand blood of Christ in physical nature but in spirit and in grace.Ref: (a) Mk. 14:22; 23; 24. While they were eating Jesus tooka piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke itand gave it to his disciples. “Take it”, he said, “thisis my body”. Then he took a cup, gave thanks toGod and handed it to them and they all drank from it.Jesus said, “This is my blood which is poured outfor many, my blood which seals God’s Covenant”.(G.N.B.)(b) Jn. 6:55. For, my flesh is the real food; my blood isthe real drink. (G.N.B.)(c) Mt. 26:28. This is my blood which seals God’sCovenant, my blood poured out for many for theforgiveness of sins. (G.N.B.)(d) Lk. 22:19. Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanksto God, broke it and gave it to them saying, “this ismy body which is given for you. Do this in memoryof me.” (G.N.B.)(e) 1Cor. 11:24. Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed,took a piece of bread gave thanks to God broke itand said, “this is my body which is for you. Do thisin memory of me.” (G.N.B.)CommentThe Eucharist is treated as distinct from ‘agape’ or the lovefeast, which prevailed among certain communities of the past.The ‘bread and wine’ the essential elements in the communalmeal of the Christians came to be regarded as ‘Holy SpiritualSustenance’. This consideration was given because theseofferings were in perfect fulfilment of the pronouncement ofthe prophet Malachi. They were regarded the body and bloodof Christ because the Christians followed the instructions ofChrist and also because they experienced spiritually thepresence of the Lord in these elements as in Incarnation.Therefore the bread and wine, after the Eucharisticcelebration are hailed holy.3. Even though the Eucharistic elements of bread and wine do notget transformed in form and taste into the body and blood ofJesus, they are verily so.Ref: 1Cor. 11:26. This means that, every time you eat thisbread and drink from the cup you proclaim the Lord’sdeath until he comes. (G.N.B.)CommentThe theology of the transformation of the bread and waterinto the body and blood of Jesus, following the Eucharisticcelebration, is explained. The transformation is not in the‘form or matter’ of the elements. There are various theoriessuch as Transubstantiation held by the Roman CatholicChurch, Consubstantiation as held by the ProtestantChurches, the Syrian theory without any particular name.Any way the transformation is a ‘rozo’ or mystery.4. Those who eat the bread and drink the wine with faith anddevotion shall receive as a sequel, salvation and eternal life.Ref: (a) 1Cor. 11:28. So then everyone should examinehimself first, and then eat the bread and drink fromthe cup. (G.N.B.)(b) Jn. 6:51-57. I am the living bread that came downfrom heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will livefor ever. The bread that I will give him is my flesh,which I give so that the world may live. This startedan angry argument among them. “How can this mangive us his flesh to eat”, they asked. Jesus said tothem, “I am telling you the truth; if you do not eatthe flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood youwill not have life in yourselves. Whoever eats myflesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I willraise him to life on the last day. For, my flesh is thereal food; my blood is the real drink whoever eatsmy flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I livein him. The living Father sent me and because ofhim I live also. In the same way whoever eats me willlive because of me.” (G.N.B.)