The highest form of worship in the Bible is sacrifice (not songs and sermons).
The Old Testament sacrifices foreshadowed the sacrifice of Christ.
Now, in New Testament times, we still offer sacrifice, but it's the True Sacrifice -- the fulfilment of the Old.
Unlike the Old, the New Testament Eucharistic Sacrifice does not just symbolize the once-for-all True Sacrifice of Jesus, but it IS the once-for-all True Sacrifice of Jesus -- that is, its re-presentation and renewed application.
We can't pretend sacrificial worship is only a thing of the past. We partake of the Sacrifice -- the Sacrificial Victim -- at every Mass.
We layfolks participate by prayerfully eating the flesh that actually saves us (not the animal flesh that represented it). It is truly effectual.
It is Jesus' true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity as a Sacrament (a sign that effects what it signifies), given to us for our salvation.
It's all His work, not our work. It's Jesus' gift of Himself.
PTL!
The Old Testament sacrifices foreshadowed the sacrifice of Christ.
Now, in New Testament times, we still offer sacrifice, but it's the True Sacrifice -- the fulfilment of the Old.
Unlike the Old, the New Testament Eucharistic Sacrifice does not just symbolize the once-for-all True Sacrifice of Jesus, but it IS the once-for-all True Sacrifice of Jesus -- that is, its re-presentation and renewed application.
We can't pretend sacrificial worship is only a thing of the past. We partake of the Sacrifice -- the Sacrificial Victim -- at every Mass.
We layfolks participate by prayerfully eating the flesh that actually saves us (not the animal flesh that represented it). It is truly effectual.
It is Jesus' true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity as a Sacrament (a sign that effects what it signifies), given to us for our salvation.
It's all His work, not our work. It's Jesus' gift of Himself.
PTL!