Continuing in reading A More Profound Alleluia, we reach a concept that I’m not sure I have spent much cognitive, intentional, theological thought with in regards to a worship service. We get to a portion written by Martha L. Moore-Keish in which she discusses the dichotomy of eucharist and eschatology. These two things interacting together is not something I have paired before, but from her writing, I understand the significance of the two.
The way Moore-Keish speaks in regards to eschatology is semi-typical in that eschatology literally means the study of the end times, or the future. However, Moore-Keish goes further by explaining how we as Christians are called to, and actively live in, the reality of hope in the future and participation in that future. “One way,” Moore-Keish explains, “in which we participate in God’s future now is by coming to the table to ‘proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.’” So, the Eucharist is an element of living in the reality of now, not yet. Eucharist, coming from the Greek word which translates to, “thanksgiving,” is essential to the individual and corporate Christian life. Eucharist encapsulates remembrance, present repentance, and hope all at the same time, which shows the importance of practicing it in relation to our eternal destiny. Some traditions focus on a particular time, (past, present, or future) but in reality, Eucharist is meant to house all three, and that is where the importance of eschatology comes into play.
Like I briefly mentioned before, Moore-Keish explains how eschatology highlights the “Already and the Not Yet,” of the Christian life, the Kingdom of God, the Gospel. It brings us back to the reality that we are here now, but our hope is eternal, and our God is eternal. His plan has been written since the beginning and we get to be a part of that, and we get to wait and prepare for the story to finally reach its infinite and glorious conclusion. A second way eschatology and Eucharist aid the Christian life is that it reminds us of our corporate existence. This celebration was intended to be communal, taken as a Body. The same is true for God’s salvation, Jesus’ sacrifice is for a community not an individual. Eucharist is a beautiful time to be personally reminded and realigned with Christ, but really it is meant for the Bride’s heart to be realigned. The Bride who will be united with the Groom, the corporate Body. Finally, Eucharist and eschatology remind us that we are created beings in a physical reality but we are also existing in a spiritual reality as well. Eucharist is a physical act, taking and eating, but it also reminds us of the present spiritual experiences that are happening. We are more than just flesh and bone, but we are invited to unity through the Spirit and encounter God spiritually as well.
Eschatology is meant to bring clarity and depth to the practice and reality of the Eucharist. To gain a better perspective into what it really is that God is inviting us into and what Jesus has made way for us to participate in. Without theology of eschatology, Eucharist is just a meal or an empty ritual that serves no spiritual, communal, or eternal purpose.
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