Eucharist and Priesthood Connection

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum. We've reached the pinnacle of our Lenten journey as we culminate our Lenten sacrifices with Jesus and his passion. It is the day when we remember and reflect on the importance of the priesthood and the Holy Eucharist. 

Archbishop Charles Chaput reminds us that the Eucharist can’t exist with priests and God can’t exist unless we have the Eucharist. These two sacraments can be traced back to the Pentateuch (the first five books of the law).

Melchizedek

In Genesis 14, we see the encounter between Abraham and a priest-king named Melchizedek. In the passage, the priest-king offers Abraham bread and wine which foreshadows the Last Supper. During that night, Jesus institutes the Eucharist and the priesthood to eleven men (notice that I don’t include Judas) to carry on his mission and his sacrifice in memory of him.  

The name Melchizedek means, “my king of justice.” Jesus is truly the just king. Melchizedek is the king of the city of Salem, which would later be called Jerusalem.

Manna

Manna has had several references in the Torah. One that stands out the most is hod God fed his chosen people while wandering the desert for 40 years after escaping Egypt. It would later be known as “bread from heaven” in John 6 when Jesus echoes this tradition.

Passover

The feast that took place in Egypt before the Israelites fled to their freedom traces to when unleavened bread and the blood of the lamb are shared. It symbolizes the sacrifice of the lamb (Jesus) and the covenant between God and His people.

Since the beginning, God made certain men to become priests. The tradition can be traced back to Aaron. The people of Israel as "a kingdom of priests and a consecrated nation" (Ex 19:6). These priests came from the tribe of Levi and his sons. Their duties, functions, and rites are detailed in the Book of Leviticus.  

St. Paul summarizes the priesthood by saying, “Christ's servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God"  (1 Cor 4:1-2).

As we commemorate the priesthood and eucharist, let us take time to pray for these brave men who said yes to God’s call to emulate Christ in their duties while taking on the sufferings of the world in memory of him.

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.