In the first part of this blog, I discussed the Eucharist as a thanksgiving and praise to God the Father for creation. Now, let’s look at the Eucharist as an act of thanksgiving for redemption. I’d emphasize the role of sacrifice.
Thanksgiving for Redemption
With two decades in Holy Orders, I’ve had the privilege of baptizing children and watching them grow into young adults. The joy parents experience when bringing their child to the church for baptism is unparalleled. Baptism is a new birth in Christ, bringing smiles to parents, godparents, and the congregation as they witness this sacrament. There is thanksgiving to God for birth, just as for creation.
However, as years pass, some children may stray from the path envisioned by their parents, becoming the so-called “black sheep” of the family. These moments are painful to parents. Yet, when the child returns and turns a new leaf, thanks to God’s grace, the joy experienced is even more significant. It is akin to the joy in heaven over a repentant sinner, as described in Luke 15’s parables of forgiveness.
Thanksgiving moments celebrate blessings and new beginnings through creation or redemption. The Eucharist embodies this dual thanksgiving: for creation and the restoration brought by redemption from the fall. Christ, who offers back to God the gifts of creation, presents them as redeemed through His wounds by which “we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This redemption is the path of God’s plan, comprising creation and its ultimate renewal; creation longs for it (Romans 8:19). Christ’s redemptive death was not an unfortunate coincidence but part of the mystery of God’s plan (CCC 599; Acts2:23).
Sacrifice of Thanksgiving for Redemption
As I highlighted in a previous article, the Eucharist is not merely a ceremonial act. It is a profound “sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all His benefits, for all that He has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification” (CCC 1360). In this sacred celebration, we recall the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. We express our deep gratitude for the salvation He offers.
Jesus’ redemptive death fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering Servant, and He explained the meaning of His life and death in the light of this prophecy (CCC 601; Isa53:11; cf. 53:12;Jn8:34-36;Acts3:14). By His loving obedience to the Father, Jesus’ sacrifice was the ultimate act of love and obedience, fully aligning with God’s will (CCC 606-607; Jn6:38; Jn4:34; Jn10:17; 14:31; 1 Jn2:2; Heb10:5-10).
Since humanity cannot offer God praise or sacrifice truly worthy of Him, our praise must come from Himself. As the Book of Revelation reveals, Christ, the Lamb, embodies divine praise, truly deserving to open the scroll (Rev 5:2-10). His blood signifies the ultimate redemption accomplished on the cross (CCC 613;). Therefore, our gratitude for redemption is embodied in Christ’s sacrificial act.
We are worthy to praise God for redemption only because the Lamb of God has made us worthy through the sacrifice of his blood–his death and resurrection. We become praise in him whose life is divine praise in us. Hence, we offer the highest praise through him.
The Eucharist as the Highest Form of Praise
The Eucharist is the highest form of praise in which redeemed humanity sings in unison to the Creator. Original sin inflicted a deadly blow on all of creation. Through Christ’s passion, crucifixion, and death, the sins of the fallen world are borne in Himself. By dying, Jesus offers His blood like a pure lamb, whose pleas are more incessant than Abel’s (CCC 608; Jn 1:29; cf. Lk 3:21; Mt 3:14-15; Jn 1:36; Isa 53:7,12; cf. Jer 11:19; Ex 12:3-14; Jn 19:36; 1 Cor 5:7; Mk 10:45).
The pleading of Christ’s blood is a powerful praise to the Father, for whom all creation is set to serve. This act of sacrifice is not merely a remembrance but an active participation in the redemptive work of Christ. As we partake in the Eucharist, we participate in the divine sacrifice. We offer our thanksgiving for the redemption it brings. The Eucharist thus becomes a communal and cosmic act of worship. In it, the whole Church, united with Christ, offers praise and thanksgiving to the Father (CCC 611).
Sacrifice and Praise in Unity
The concept of sacrifice is deeply ingrained in the practice of the Eucharist as praise for redemption. Through the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist, we understand its role as a profound act of praise. The sacrifice of Christ was the ultimate act of love and obedience to the Father (CCC 609).
As we learn from Scripture, obedience to the Father is better than any sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Thus, the obedience of Christ up to the point of crucifixion (Philippians 2:8) is the ultimate sacrifice. By participating in the Eucharist, we unite our sacrifices (our sufferings, our joys, and our lives) with the perfect sacrifice of Christ–namely, his obedient emptying of Himself on the cross.
Through Christ, our imperfect offerings become pleasing to God. All our disobedience to the will of God takes on a redemptive trajectory in the holy obedience of the Lamb who was slain (Rev 5:12). The Eucharist thus becomes a communal and cosmic act of obedient worship, where the whole Church, united with Christ, offers praise and thanksgiving to the Father.
The Eucharist as a Cosmic Praise
Finally, the Eucharist is a sacrifice of praise that “sings the glory of God in the name of all creation” (CCC 1361). Through Christ, we are united in offering praise and thanksgiving that the Father accepts in Him. This worship is communal and cosmic, involving not just the gathered faithful but all creation. All creation, not just humanity, was redeemed in Christ. It is also all the redeemed creation that is offered through Christ in praise of the Father.
Through the Eucharist, we remember Christ’s redemptive work, unite our sacrifices with His, and join all creation in singing praises to the Creator. This sacred act allows us to participate in the divine life and embrace the fullness of God’s plan for creation, redemption, and sanctification.
Conclusion
The Eucharist as thanksgiving and praise for redemption is a powerful testament to God’s infinite love and mercy. It reminds us of the profound sacrifice of Christ and the radical mercy of God. It calls us to unite our lives with His, offering our imperfect praises through His perfect sacrifice.
As we celebrate the Eucharist, we join with all creation in a symphony of praise, thanking God for the gift of redemption and embracing our role in His divine plan. Through this sacred act, we are transformed and called to live out the fullness of God’s redemptive love in our daily lives.
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