STUDY GUIDE Session 8 Brant Pitre Nil Stat: Dr. Joseph E. Burns, Censor Deputatus Imprimatur: Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila, S.T.L. Archbishop of Denver, May, 2015. Copyright © 2015 Augustine Institute. All rights reserved. With the exception of short excerpts used in articles and critical reviews, no part of this work may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in any form whatsoever, printed or electronic, without the prior permission of the publisher. Some Scripture verses contained herein are from the Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 by the Division of Christian Educators of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America, copyright ©1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modification from the Editio Typica copyright ©1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Writers: Aurora Cerulli, Ashley Crane, Kate Flannery, Kris Gray, Jill Kotrba, Therese Obagi Media: Steve Flanigan, Jon Ervin, Justin Leddick, Kevin Mallory, Ted Mast, John Schmidt Print Production/Graphic Design: Justin Deister, Ann Diaz, Brenda Kraft, Jane Myers, Devin Schadt Augustine Institute 6160 South Syracuse Way, Suite 310 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Information: 303-937-4420 FORMED.org AugustineInstitute.org Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-0-9862288-1-0 O PENING P RAYER Acclaim, my tongue, this mystery Of glorious Body and precious Blood Which the King of nations shed for us A noble womb’s sole fruitful bud. Given and born from a Virgin pure, Having made this world His dwelling place, When the seeds of His words were sown afar He ended His stay in wondrous grace. With brethren reclining at that last meal, He observes in full what the Law demands, Th en gives Himself as food instead To apostles twelve with His own hands. Amen. —fi rst half of St. Th omas Aquinas’ hymn Acclaim, My Tongue, Th is Mystery (Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi) INTRODUCTION Th e last seß ion explored the Bread of Life discourse and Jesus’ shock ing promise to give his fl esh and blood as true food and true drink. With his Galilean ministry now at its end, Jesus heads with his Apostles to Jerusalem to celebrate the Paß over meal before his paß ion and death on the croß . But as the meal in the Upper Room begins, it becomes clear to the Apostles that they are not celebrating a typical Paß over. Jesus’ words and actions are completely new. While hundreds of thousands of lambs are prepared for sacrifi ce in the Temple, the Lamb of God institutes the fulfi llment of the words he spoke in Capernaum. Last Supper / Scala / Art Resource, NY 147 C ONNECT 1. When have you att ended a function in a large venue (maybe a conference, or a concert, or something like World Youth Day)? What was it like? How did the size of the crowd intensify the experience? 2. Have you ever participated in a Paß over Seder meal? Briefl y share your experience. D ISCUSS PART 1—THE NEW PASSOVER OF CHRIST Watch the teach ing. Th e following is a brief outline of the topics covered in the video teach ing. I. In the fi rst century, Paß over and Feast of Unleavened Bread were synonymous—“a Paß over Octave” II. Paß over must be celebrated in Jerusalem because it is a Temple sacrifi ce III. What must Peter and John do to prepare? A. Secure a lamb B. Take the lamb to the Temple to be sacrifi ced IV. Josephus’ description of a fi rst-century Paß over A. Sacrifi ced from 9th to 11th hour B. No fewer than 10 people to share the Paß over together C. 255,600 lambs; 2,700,000 pilgrims 148 The Last Supper and the Cross: The New Passover of Christ V. Mishnah description of Paß over A. Lambs sacrifi ced in three groups B. Priests stood in rows with basins of silver and gold C. Lay Israelite slaughtered his lamb D. Priests caught blood in basins and paß ed basins to altar E. Blood toß ed against the altar F. Levites sang the Hallel (praise psalms— Psalms 113–118) G. Lambs skinned and put on spits in the shape of a croß D ISCUSS 1. What was one thing that you heard for the fi rst time or that was an “aha” moment for you in Dr. Pitre’s teach ing? 2. Why does Jesus give Peter and John such cryptic instructions? What would their aft ernoon have been like that Holy Th ursday (sights, sounds, smells, etc.)? Why do you think he ch ooses Peter and John for the preparations? 3. What did you fi nd most striking about the descriptions of the fi rst-century celebrations of the Paß over feasts from Josephus and the Mishnah? Why? How does this deepen your appreciation for the celebration of the Last Supper? PART 2—THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION Watch the teach ing. Th e following is a brief outline of the topics covered in the video teach ing. I. Words of Institution A. Recorded in gospels of Matt hew, Mark, and Luke B. Recorded in Paul’s First Lett er to the Corinthians II. Continuity with Jewish Paß over A. Custom for host of Paß over meal to interpret meaning of the meal B. “Bread of affl iction” 149 The Last Supper and the Cross: The New Passover of Christ III. Discontinuity A. Bread and wine are Jesus’ body and blood B. Meal is interpreted in relation to Jesus and his sacrifi ce, not in relation to the Exodus C. Jesus is revealing that he is the true Paß over Lamb IV. Mishnah A. Lamb described as “body” B. “Th is is my body” = “I am the new sacrifi ce of the new covenant” V. Blood of the sacrifi ce A. Blood of the sacrifi ce poured out on altar by priests B. “Do this in remembrance”=Apostles are priests C. Old Testament prohibition against drinking blood, because the blood makes atonement and the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:10–11; Deuteronomy 12:23) D. Jesus commands us to drink his blood, because his blood makes atonement and gives us his life VI. Last Supper sets in motion Jesus’ paß ion A. Singing Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113–118) B. Singing praise and thanksgiving, already looking ahead to the Resurrection VII. Calvary (John 19) A. Use of hyß op and no bones broken— new Paß over Lamb B. Blood and water from Jesus’ side parallels Mishnah account of blood and water fl owing from side of the altar and Temple D ISCUSS 4. What was one thing that you heard for the fi rst time or that was an “aha” moment for you in Dr. Pitre’s teach ing? 5. What are the points of continuity between the Last Supper and the Jewish Paß over? Why is it important to understand the Last Supper in light of the Paß over and the Old Covenant Law? 150 The Last Supper and the Cross: The New Passover of Christ 6. How does the Last Supper set in motion Jesus’ paß ion? How does Jesus’ singing of the Hallel psalms look forward to his resurrection? How can imitating Jesus’ off ering of praise and thanksgiving help us in the midst of diffi cult situations? “Jesus chose the time of Passover to fulfi ll what he had announced at Capernaum… By celebrating the Last Supper with his apostles in the course of the Passover meal, Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its defi nitive meaning. Jesus’ passing over to his father by his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist, which fulfi lls the Jewish Passover and anticipates the fi nal Passover of the Church in the glory of the kingdom.” —CCC 1339–1340 “Recognize in this bread what hung on the cross, and in this chalice what fl owed from His side… whatever was in many and varied ways announced beforehand in the sacrifi ces of the Old Testament pertains to this one sacrifi ce which is revealed in the New Testament.” —St. Augustine, Feast Day, August 28 “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” —Luke 22:19 C LOSING P RAYER Lord Jesus Christ, at the Last Supper you fulfi lled the Old Covenant Paß over and instituted for us the New Covenant sacrament of the Euch arist. As we are nourished by your Body and Blood, may we enter ever more deeply into the mystery of your paß ion, death, and resurrection, and be united ever more closely to you. Amen. FOR FURTHER READING Pope Benedict XVI, “The Last Supper” in Jesus of Nazareth, Part Two (Ignatius Press, 2011) Brant Pitre, “The New Passover” and “The Fourth Cup and the Death of Jesus” in Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist (Doubleday, 2011) 151 C OMMIT –DAY 1 The Passover Feast Last Supper of Christ mosaic © Hadrian / shutterstock .com Th e Last Supper is a familiar and moving scene in Scripture. Artists throughout the centuries have depicted this poignant moment in which Jesus and his Apostles share the fellowship of a meal among friends before the storm of the Paß ion. But context is neceß ary to understanding any story, and it is absolutely vital to grasping the full depth of key moments in salvation history.