Pregledni rad
The Priesthood in the New Testament and its Relationship with the Eucharist
Božidar Mrakovčić
; KBF – Zagreb, Teologija u Rijeci
Sažetak
The article presents the theme of priesthood in the New Testament, and its relationship towards the sacrament of Eucharist. The Gospels do not explicitly mention Christian priesthood, but clearly prefer the existential worship in “Spirit and truth” compared to the temple ritual. The priesthood of Christ is presented according to the epistle to the Hebrews, and relying on the publications of Albert Vanhoye. Jesus’ priestly qualities are presented: his relationship with God (faithful) and proximity to man (merciful). Without these qualities that are perfected in passion, his mediation would not be efficient. The newness of the priesthood of Christ in relationship to the Old Testament priesthood is presented. According to Hb, Christ, being a high priest, is the mediator of the New Covenant. Because of his priestly sacrifice on the cross, realized according to the “Eternal spirit” (Hb 9,14) Jesus’ death is transformed into a instrument of the New Covenant in which faithful enter through their unity with Christ.
Jesus is consecrated for a High Priest not by rites of separation, but by his death that made him totally proofed in solidarity with man and in obedience to Father. Christ’s priestly sacrifice is new in respect to the goal, content and the way of offering. The goal is Christ’s inner transformation, it contains Jesus’ body, and it is consecrated by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, and as such, unlike the Old Testament priests, in sue to the unique sacrifice remains a priest for ever and the only mediator between God and man. The newness of the priesthood of Christ the openness to a twofold participation: through the baptismal and ministerial priesthood. The baptismal or royal priesthood is mentioned in the 1st epistle of Peter and in Revelation. New Testament is only preparing in view of the ministerial priesthood the application of the term “priest” to the ministers of the Church, suggesting the need of their mediating role in the edification of the Church. In the last part of the article, the author presents the relation of the New Testament priesthood and the Eucharist. Celebrating the Eucharist, the faithful are unified with Jesus, who as a High priest mediates the dynamism of Father’s and his love mediating thus the New Testament, i.e. a true communion with God and man. In the Eucharist, Christ, the High priest, through the ministerial priesthood mediates to the faithful the force of love, necessary in the offering of spiritual sacrifices, i.e. necessary for living the royal priesthood.
Ključne riječi
priest; High priest; baptismal priesthood; ministerial priesthood; sacrifice; Eucharist; New covenant
Hrčak ID:
74517
URI
Datum izdavanja:
16.8.2010.
Posjeta: 1.970 *