24 March 2008
Patristic Quote of the Day
What then? do not we offer every day? We offer indeed, but making a remembrance of His death, and this [remembrance] is one and not many. How is it one, and not many? Inasmuch as that [Sacrifice] was once for all offered, [and] carried into the Holy of Holies. This is a figure of that [sacrifice] and this remembrance of that. For we always offer the same, not one sheep now and tomorrow another, but always the same thing: so that the sacrifice is one. And yet by this reasoning, since the offering is made in many places, are there many Christs? but Christ is one everywhere, being complete here and complete there also, one Body. As then while offered in many places, He is one body and not many bodies; so also [He is] one sacrifice. He is our High Priest, who offered the sacrifice that cleanses us. That we offer now also, which was then offered, which cannot be exhausted. This is done in remembrance of what was then done. For (says He) "do this in remembrance of Me." ( Luke xxii. 19 .) It is not another sacrifice, as the High Priest, but we offer always the same, or rather we perform a remembrance of a Sacrifice.-- St. John Chrysostom on Hebrews 9
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3 comments:
Christ is Risen!
Pastor Weedon,
Isn't Chrysostom, well, agreeing with what I was arguing for over at David Schütz's Sentire cum Ecclesia? I think I may have used the selfsame passage in one of my arguments...
Now, Josh, I thought he was agreeing with the argument *I* was making - the sacrifice is a noun and our action is particularly remembrance of that one sacrifice, made present in the elements.
Ah, I see, noun versus verb - but it seems Chrysostom was rather big on "offering" Christ Who is our one Sacrifice, performing a memorial sacrifice in remembrance of His saving death. Not to rehash our earlier discussion!
I see from your blog that there is some controversy erupted in your fold; sorry to hear about that, especially at a season that should be given over to thankful remembrance of Christ's Sacrifice, and joy at His victorious resurrection.
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