What Happens in Holy Communion?

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ISBN: 9780802846020 | 0802846025
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 5/1/2000

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All the large churches in the world agree on this: communion is the highest expression of the church unity. Yet it is exactly the act of communion that historically has given rise to vehement controversies among the churches. This new book not only explores the meaning of holy communion but also marks a turning point on the way to common understanding.Welker gives a clear explanation of holy communion based on the biblical tradition and evaluates the ecumenical discourse on communion of the past thirty years. In the process he answers such often posed questions as "What do we mean when we say that Christ is present in communion?" "How are Christ's body and blood connected with bread and wine?" "What is the difference between the Christian Supper and the Jewish Passover meal?" and "Are children allowed to share in communion?"

Introduction: What Happens in Holy Communion?

(1)

A High Point of Christian Life -- or ``a Sad Colloquy'' (Kant)?

Holy Communion: Seen from the Outside

(1)

Holy Communion: ``Source and Summit of the Church's Life''?

(4)

Dismal Personal Experiences and Good Ones

(4)

The Offensive Reality of the Risen Jesus Christ as the Key to Understanding the Supper

(9)

The Power of the Biblical Texts

(3)

From Conflicts Between Churches to Ecumenical Understanding Concerning the Supper

(7)

PART 1 Holy Communion: Human Beings Thank God and Symbolically Celebrate a Community Meal in a Jeopardized World

``Do This...'' Who Is Supposed to Do What?

(14)

Symbolic Community Meal -- or Merely a Preparation for That Meal?

The Sacrifice of the Mass and Communion-the Sacrifice of the Mass Also Without Communion? The Traditional Roman Catholic Position

(4)

What Do the Biblical Texts Support?

(2)

Unanimity among the Reformation, Post-Reformation, and Orthodox Churches: ``The Super Is an Act of Worship of the Community Gathered in Jesus' Name''

(1)

The Cautious Change in the Roman Catholic Position in the Last Third of the Twentieth Century

(3)

The Early Church's Practice of the Supper: Unity of a Full Community Meal and a Symbolically Celebrated Meal

(1)

Results

(2)

``In the Night in Which He Was Betrayed...''

(12)

Threatened Not Only from Outside, but Also from Inside!

The Participants in the Passover Meal: Threatened from Outside, but Committed in Solidarity to the Cause -- the Participants in the Supper: Threatened from Outside and Self-Jeopardizing

(4)

Was Jesus' Last Supper a Passover Meal or a Regular Jewish Meal?

(3)

How Often Should We Celebrate the Supper?

(2)

Results

(2)

``...He Took Bread, Gave Thanks, Broke It, and Gave It to Them Saying: Take and Eat...''

(14)

We Must Not Separate the Glorification of God from the Mutual Acceptance of Human Beings

Why the Supper Is More Than a Thanksgiving, a ``Eucharist''

(3)

``When the Word Comes to the Element, There Is a Sacrament'': A Deficiency Even in Augustine and Luther?

(2)

Why the Supper Is More Than a Ritual of Mutual Acceptance and Symbolic Righteousness

(1)

Jesus' Meals and the Glorification of the Creator

(4)

Bread and Wine as ``Gifts of Creation'': Can They Be Replaced by Other ``Elements''?

(1)

Results

(2)

``Whoever, Therefore, Eats the Bread or Drinks the Cup of the Lord in an Unworthy Manner...''

(18)

If God Accepts Human Beings Unconditionally, Even the Community's Enemies...How Can Misuse of the Meal Be Prevented?

What Is the Meaning of the Oppressive References to ``Unworthy Eating and Drinking'' and to Coming Together ``Unto Judgment''?

(2)

The First Recipients of Jesus' Supper: ``Who Betrayed Him''; Peter, ``Who Denied Him''; the Disciples, ``Who Abandoned Him and Fled''

(1)

Unconditional Acceptance: The Supper Must Not Be Misused for the Purposes of Moral or Church Disciplinary Control

(2)

In What Does the ``Unworthy Eating and Drinking'' in Corinth Consist?

(1)

First Interpretation: Unsocially Separated in Sharing the Meal but -- Nevertheless Bound Together in the Eucharistic Community

(2)

Second Interpretation: Demonstrative Self-Absorption and Social Brutality in Connection with the Misuse of the Supper

(3)

How Is the Supper Celebrated ``Worthily''? The Tension Between ``Acceptance of the Weak'' and the Preservation of Cultic Form: When Apparently Secondary Things Like Grape Juice, Individual Glasses, and Wafers Become Warning Signals

(4)

Results

(4)

PART 2 Holy Communion -- Celebration of the Presence of Jesus Christ

``This Is My Body...This Is My Blood''

(14)

The Much-Disputed ``Real Presence'' of Christ in the Supper

What Have We Learned up to This Point about the ``Real Presence'' of Christ? -- The Risen One Is Recognized in Thanksgiving and in the Breaking of Bread

(1)

The Unity of Reconciliation with God and Reconciliation among Human Beings

(1)

``Body and Blood'':Most Concrete, Perceivable Vitality and Most Internal Vital Power

(1)

``Body and Blood'' and the Freely Given Gifts of Creation of bread and Wine

(1)

The ``Personal Presence'' of Christ: How the Lutheran-Reformed Discussion of the Supper Found Its Way Out of a Dead-End Street

(3)

Toward a Deepening of the Notion of ``Personal Presence''

(2)

Back to ``Real Presence'': The Essential Being of Jesus Christ and the Fullness of His Person in a Certainty Given to the Senses

(4)

Results

(2)

``As Often as You Eat This Bread and Drink the Cup, You Proclaim Christ's Death...''

101

(15)

What Is Revealed by the Proclamation of Christ's Cross in the Celebration of the Supper?

Can the ``Real Presence'' of Jesus Christ in the Supper Be Separated from the `` Real Presence'' of His Self-Giving Death on the Cross?

102

(2)

The Proclamation of Christ's Death as Proclamation of His Cross

104

(2)

The Cross as Revelation of the Sin and Lostness of the World, and of the Suffering of God

106

(3)

Supper and Sacrifice: A Tangled Web of Problems Must Be Untangled

109

(2)

``Atonement'' Is a Salvific Event

111

(1)

H. Gese

B. Janowski

``Sacrifice'' Is Always the Donation of Vital Resources, but Not Necessarily ``Victimization''

112

(2)

S. Brandt

Results

114

(2)

You Proclaim Christ's Death ``Until He Comes''

116

(10)

The Hope for the Complete Revelation of God in the Whole Creation

Why We Have Trouble Imagining Christ's ``Coming''

116

(3)

The Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Reign of God Are ``in Advent''

119

(2)

The Supper as a ``Meal of God's Reign'' and as ``Heavenly Liturgy''

121

(3)

Results

124

(2)

``Do This in Remembrance of Me''

126

(11)

Why the Supper Is Not Merely a Meal of Recollection: The Memory of Christ as Gift of the Holy Spirit and as Cultural Power

Not Only: For Your Recollection of Me

126

(1)

``Collective Memory'' as Cultural Power

127

(2)

The Living Cultural and Canonical Memory of Jesus Christ

129

(2)

Called into the Remembrance of Christ

131

(1)

Results

132

(5)

PART 3 Holy Communion -- Feast of the Church of All Times and Regions of the World, Celebration of Peace and of the New Creation, and Joyful Glorification of the Triune God

``Given for You'' -- ``Shed for many''

137

(12)

The Community Gathered Here and Now and the Ecumenical Church of All Times and Regions of the World

Deepest Certainty -- Ecumenical Universality That Spans the Epochs

137

(5)

Does the Ministerial Office Guarantee That the Supper Is Celebrated Appropriately? How Can the Churches of the Reformation Respond to the Justified Concerns of the Pre-Reformation Churches?

142

(4)

Should Children Also Be Admitted to the Supper?

146

(2)

Results

148

(1)

Liberation from the Power of Sin -- or Preservation for Eternal Life?

149

(12)

An Ecumenical Controversy That Still Impairs the Shared Celebration of the Supper at the Dawn of the Third Millennium

Forgiveness of Sins -- Pledge of Eternal Life

149

(2)

Painful Ecumenical Differences Despite Great Commonality

151

(3)

The Church of Sinners Graced by God? Why Can't the Churches of the Reformation Make a Better Case for Their Theological Concern?

154

(3)

Consequences for Sharing the Eucharistic Meal

157

(2)

Results

159

(2)

``God's Peace Be with You!'' -- ``Go in Peace!''

161

(6)

The Supper as Celebration of Preservation, Liberation, and Renewal

Making Peace and Greeting with Peace Before, After, or In the Celebration of the Supper?

161

(2)

The Multidimensionality of Peace

163

(1)

``God's Peace Be with You!'' -- ``And Also with You!'' Joining in the Peace of Creation

163

(1)

``Christ, Lamb of God, Give Us Your Peace''

164

(1)

``The God of Peace Sanctify You Through and Through...'' -- ``Go in Peace!''

165

(1)

Results

166

(1)

``In the Name of God, The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit''

167

(10)

The Presence and Activity of the Triune God in the Supper as Source of Spiritual Renewal

From Concentration on Jesus Christ to Concentration on the Living Triune God

167

(2)

Thanksgiving to the God of Creation, Preservation, and New Creation

169

(1)

The Memory of the Saving, Crucified, Resurrected, and Coming Jesus Christ

170

(2)

Invocation of the Enlivening, Liberating, and Uplifting Holy Spirit

172

(2)

The Eternal Riches of God in the Poverty of the Supper

174

(2)

Results

176

(1)

Appendix: Documents of the ``Growth in Agreement'' of Churches on the Global Level in Questions of Holy Communion, in Chronological Order, 1931-1990

177

(5)

Epilogue and Acknowledgments

182

Indexes

Subjects and Names

185

(6)

Scripture Reference

191

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What Happens in Holy Communion?

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Table of Contents

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