[Greek] εὐχαριστέω (eucharisteō), [Latin] agere gratiam, [Latin] participare cum gratiam: to give thanks, to express gratitude, to return thanks, to give thanks before meals, to express thanks, 41 scriptural references
The people give thanks (eucharisteo) to the emperor.
Background information:
Greco-Roman culture: When a favor was given, an obligation of thanks was expected. This practice of giving thanks is found both in a secular and religious sense.
Public sphere: Secular and religious thanksgiving, bestowing of honors to public leaders and servants, public worship of the Emperor and other gods, giving thanks for healings, sacrifices, and other petitions for gods
Private sphere: praising the recipient in a letter (literary device), giving thanks to the gods in the introduction in the letter
Herodotus’ The Histories 1.32.9: “For the god promises fortune to many people to many people and utterly ruins them.
Xenophon Cyropaedia 8.3.49: “And when any one does them a favor, they try to do him one in return.”
Polybius’ Histories 16.25: “The Athenian people sent envoys to King Attalus, both to thank him for the past, and to urge him to come to Athens.
Old Testament/Judaism: In Judaism, there is no Hebrew equivalent to the Greek word eucharisteo. Religious thanks are expressed in a Toda (thanks offering) and a song of thanksgiving. But thanksgiving will never cease.
Old Testament foreshadowing of the Mass (celebration of the Eucharist):
- The book of Malachi is the final book of the Old Testament. The prophet, who lived 400 years before Christ.
- Malachi speaks of a future time when God will be worshipped by Gentiles worldwide again and again throughout the world in every place (and time zone).
- This sacrifice will be a perfect offering (sacrifice), not marked by blemishes like those offered by the Old Testament priests in Jerusalem.
Mal.1:11: “From the rising of the sun to its setting, My name is great among nations (Gentiles); incense offerings are made to My name and a pure offering. For My name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”
Lev.17:11: “Since the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you make an atonement on the altar for yourselves.” (The Jews could not drink the blood because the life was in the blood. This becomes the sad an ironic reason why the Jews could not accept Jesus’ Body and Blood and could not accept Jesus as their Savior.)
New Testament: This term means to give thanks and to be thankful. Examples include: Jesus giving thanks, the leper giving thanks, the Pharisees giving ‘thanks’, Paul giving thanks, and idolaters not giving thanks. Paul also uses an introductory literary device thanking God at the beginning of his letters. After the greeting, Paul gives thanks to God. This serves to usher in the main theme of the letter. This literary practice follows a Hellenistic tradition of thanking a god for one’s safety.
Scriptures:
Mt.15:36: “Then He took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, who gave them to the crowd.” (This pertains to the feeding of the four thousands. Jesus responds to the disciples’ pleas that the people have nothing to eat.)
Mt.26:27: “Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to the disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is My body.'” The He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.'” (This pertains to the Last Supper. Jesus indicates that His Blood will be shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus alludes that this practice will continue in the future.)
Lk.17:16: “The leper fell at the feet of Jesus’ feet and thanked Him. The leper was a Samaritan.” (Samaritans were deemed outcasts by the Jews. It is the leper’s faith in Jesus that ultimately healed him.)
Lk.18:11: “The proud Pharisees took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity–greedy, dishonest, adulterous–or even like the tax collector.'” (This is the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. The humble tax collector went home justified. Jesus states that for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. The one humbles himself will be exalted.)
Rom.1:21: “For although they [idolators] knew God, they did not accord Him glory or give Him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened.” (There is a close relationship between evil, idolatry, and immorality. Idolaters claiming to be wise, becoming fools. They exchange the glory of God for the likeness of the image of man. Man’s desires are now being “worshipped or idolized”.)
1Cor.11:24: “And after He had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is My Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.'”
The Lord’s Supper:
- At Corinth, Paul hears that there are divisions among you when you meet at Church.
- Paul states that there have to be factions among you in order that those who are approved may be known.
- Paul points out that there are some who carouse, drink, and show contempt for the Church.
- They have received the tradition of the Lord’s supper which is handed down to them by Paul.
- Paul states that they have been celebrating the Lord’s supper unworthily. They will have to answer for the Body and Blood of the Lord.
- A person should examine himself so that he can properly eat of the Body and drink of the Blood.
- Anyone who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks judgment upon himself.
- This is the earliest written record of the institution of the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament (53-56 AD).
Catholic Mass:
- Through the process of transubstantiation, the priest, standing the person of Christ, calls upon the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine into the Eucharist.
- Interestingly, this term Eucharist is not found in the gospels. Eucharist was later coined as the original first-century term for the Communion service.
- Some time before 100 A.D., the ritual of the Lord’s Supper came to be known as the Eucharist.
- Ever since, the Eucharist is offered again and again at each Mass.
- The Eucharist is a remembrance (calling back to mind) of Jesus sacrifice on the cross.
Number meanings in scripture:
- 1000: everyone
- 4000: everyone in all four corners of the world
- 5000: everyone under the Mosaic law
- 7: perfection
Etymology:
- The Latin verb agere means to conduct, to act, or to deliver something or someone.
- The Greek verb eucharisto means to thank (-charizomai) well (eu-).
- The related Greek noun eucharistia means thanksgiving.
- The Greek ana- means again. The Greek mnesis means memory. The Greek amnesis means forgetfulness.
- The Greek anamnesis means “a knowing again” (remembrance).
Conclusion:
Eucharist, eucharistic, agent, agency, participate, grace, gracious
In the public sphere, the people would often honor or give thanks to the gods and public officials. In a great public spectacle, the people would cheer the emperor. It is interesting to note that the emperor was also seen as a divine being. Other gods (deities) often received the praise from the people. A greeting of thanksgiving was part of a standard Hellenistic letter.
“Do this in memory of Me”: Jesus calls that this action be REPEATED AGAIN AND AGAIN. The Eucharist is repeatedly celebrated at every Mass.
President George Washington declared that Thursday November 26, 1789 as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. Thanksgiving is a day set aside to give thanks for one’s blessings. So Thanksgiving has become both a religious and secular form giving thanks.
Update: In his own Modernist (Synodalist) “arrogance” and “wisdom”, Cardinal Roche has claimed that the Church ecclesiology has changed. Therefore the Traditional Latin Mass and Tradition must go away. They are creating a worldly synodal Church made in the image of man and his lived experiences.
Not surprisingly, Synodality (lived experiences) has raised up as an IDOL, taking precedence over Church teachings, doctrine, Truth, scripture, Jesus’ statements and sin.
Pope Francis and his inner circle are seeking to exchange the glory of God (in Jesus’ Church) for the glory of man’s desires (IDOLIZE) in a worldly synodal Church ( in the image of man)!
A consequence of Synodality has been the refusal (failure) to state Church teachings against homosexuality. The Vatican is actually increasing its LGBTQ “outreach” to the detriment of paying lip service to Church teachings. As a result, more LGBTQ persons are being led to believe that this lifestyle is permitted by the Church. Instead, sinful activity increases leading to mortal perils of eternal souls.
Ever since Vatican II, there continues multiple instances of liturgical abuse and sacrilege: musical raves in Churches, ugly Church art, inserting pagan influences in the Mass, inserting other heretical clergy into the Mass, decrease reverence (devotion) for the Eucharist, dropped host, broken Eucharistic particles, questionable liturgical music.
There are some clergy who refuse to offer the Eucharist on tongue. There are more priests who refuse to heed the laity’s wishes for altar rails and receiving the Eucharist on the tongue.
Pope Francis’ synodal Church seeks to welcome and accept worldly values, sin, and the refusal to acknowledge sin. Welcoming these values into Jesus’ Church is EVIL!
Pope Francis arrogantly believes that the Church must change! Does Pope Francis think he knows better than Jesus??? How FOOLISH!