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A Biblical Theology of Liturgical Sacrifice As Spiritual Formation (Doctoral Dissertation, Duquesne University)

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A Biblical Theology of Liturgical Sacrifice As Spiritual Formation (Doctoral Dissertation, Duquesne University) Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 1-1-2017 Becoming a Priestly People: A Biblical Theology of Liturgical Sacrifice sa Spiritual Formation Ximena DeBroeck Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation DeBroeck, X. (2017). Becoming a Priestly People: A Biblical Theology of Liturgical Sacrifice as Spiritual Formation (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/125 This Worldwide Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BECOMING A PRIESTLY PEOPLE: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF LITURGICAL SACRIFICE AS SPIRITUAL FORMATION A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Ximena DeBroeck May 2017 Copyright by Ximena DeBroeck 2017 BECOMING A PRIESTLY PEOPLE: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF LITURGICAL SACRIFICE AS SPIRITUAL FORMATION By Ximena DeBroeck Approved March 22, 2017 ________________________________ ________________________________ William M. Wright IV, Ph.D. Bogdan G. Bucur, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Theology Associate Professor of Theology (Committee Chair) (Committee Member) ________________________________ ________________________________ George Worgul, Ph.D. Marinus C. Iwuchukwu, Ph.D. Professor of Theology Associate Professor of Theology (Committee Member) (Chair, Department of Theology) ________________________________ James C. Swindal, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy (Dean, McAnulty School of Liberal Arts) Dissertation–A Biblical Theology Sacrifice –X DeBroeckiii ABSTRACT BECOMING A PRIESTLY PEOPLE: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF LITURGICAL SACRIFICE AS SPIRITUAL FORMATION By Ximena DeBroeck May 2017 Dissertation supervised by William M. Wright IV, Ph.D. The centrality of sacrifice in the Judeo-Christian tradition is undeniable; nevertheless, unidimensional presentations of sacrifice have contributed to an incomplete, and at times distorted understanding. This work does not aim to resolve every ambiguity or misunderstanding, rather, it presents a canonical approach interpretation and brings attention to three underappreciated dimensions of sacrifice: first, the relationship between the external actions of the ritual and the internal dynamic of spirituality and morality; second, the reality that sacrifice refers not only to death, but to a way of living; and third, atonement and reconciliation are not the only reasons to offer sacrifice. My thesis is that to live as covenantal people, with a holy and priestly character, it is essential to explore these three underappreciated aspects. This study offers a nuanced biblical theology of liturgical sacrifice as an action of covenantal love, covenantal faithfulness and covenantal obedience, which serves to guide the spiritual formation of the believer. Sacrifice is of interest not only for the academia, but also for the disciple and the community: each individual disciple is called to live a holy, sacrificial, and priestly life within the community, and the Church -as a community of disciples- is called to live out sacrificially the mission to evangelize and “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). Dissertation–A Biblical Theology Sacrifice –X DeBroeckiv DEDICATION To Lukas Joseph Charae Maria Katherine Christina and Joe Andrew Robert Mike Mom & Dad For it is ḥeseḏ that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings (Hos. 6:6) Dissertation–A Biblical Theology Sacrifice –X DeBroeckv ACKNOWLEDGMENT First and foremost, I give thanks to God Almighty. To him, I offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise for abiding in me, for inviting me to abide in him and to participate in his life, and for his covenantal sacrificial love, revealed in and through creation, redemption, and sanctification. I owe my greatest thanks and gratitude to my family, those to whom I dedicate this work, as well as my sister and brother, and their families. Their constant prayers sustained me throughout this journey. Many of them spent countless hours reading draft after draft and learned, along with me, much about sacrifice. Their love is a witness of the meaning of sacrifice. Sincere thanks go to my professors at Duquesne University and at St. Vincent Seminary. Most especially, I owe a great debt of gratitude to William M. Wright IV, Ph.D., whose guidance, encouragement, and prayers are part of every page of this dissertation. I am also grateful to my students at St. Mary’s Seminary and at St. Vincent Seminary. Their questions and comments helped me to articulate concepts more clearly. Most specially, I am thankful for their prayers. A special word of thanks to the administration, faculty, and staff of St. Mary’s Seminary. Particularly, Fr. Tom Hurst, P.S.S., Fr. Philip Brown, P.S.S., and Fr. Tom Burke, O.SS.T., for their support during the completion of the dissertation. Thanks also to my colleagues, who encouraged me every step of the way. Furthermore, I thank Archbishop William Lori for his support. My thanks also go to the many friends who supported and encouraged me along the way. A final word of thanks to St. Catherine of Sienna and to St. Catherine Vadstena, daughter of Bridget of Sweden, for their courageous witness as women of faith, and their intercession. Dissertation–A Biblical Theology Sacrifice –X DeBroeckvi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ....................................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgment ........................................................................................................................... vi List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER 1 BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF LITURGICAL SACRIFICE 1.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. State of the Problem / State of the Question ..................................................................... 4 A. Controversial Points in the Interpretation of Sacrifice................................................ 7 1. Sacrifice interpreted only as a concept centered on ritualistic external practices ....... 7 2. Sacrifice interpreted purely as an economic transaction effecting atonement ....... 8 3. Sacrifice interpreted as a rationalizing factor to condone violence and oppression .. 10 B. Biblical Theology Interpretation of Sacrifice ........................................................... 11 1. Walther Eichrodt .................................................................................................. 12 2. Gerhard von Rad .................................................................................................. 14 3. Bernhard Anderson .............................................................................................. 17 4. Brevard Childs ..................................................................................................... 19 5. Jacob Milgrom ..................................................................................................... 22 6. Walter Brueggemann ........................................................................................... 23 7. Robert Daly .......................................................................................................... 26 1.3. Purpose and Direction of this Study ............................................................................... 27 1.4. Methodology ................................................................................................................... 29 A. Canonical Approach / Canonical Criticism .............................................................. 30 1. Canon ................................................................................................................... 30 2. Testimony of the Believing Community.............................................................. 31 3. The Contributions of James Sanders and Brevard Childs ................................... 32 B. Course of Argument .................................................................................................. 34 C. Delimitations of this Study ....................................................................................... 37 1.5. Contributions of this Study .............................................................................................. 37 1.6. Organization of this Study ............................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER 2 THE MOSAIC COVENANT AND THE INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING SACRIFICE 2.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 43 2.2. Exodus – The Mosaic Covenant as the Context for the Sacrificial System..................... 44 2.3. Leviticus – Instructions for the Sacrificial System .......................................................... 51 A. The
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