CUL:The Mass: Sacrifice or Celebration?  by Bill Bennett

   DEATH?

   Many of todays Roman Catholics believe the Mass to be nothing more
than a celebration of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross. But what
are the teachings from the Roman Catholic Mass really saying?

   If we look at the parts of the mass we see the Introductory rites,
the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the
Concluding rite. We wish to look closely at the Liturgy of the
Eucharist. After the Liturgy of the Word, and the profession of faith,
we come to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. All throughout the Mass the
congregation responds to the Priest's prayers.

   The Priest begins by saying, "Blessed are you, Lord God of all
creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which
earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the
bread of life." The simplest meaning of these words are, that 'bread'
that God has provided, and 'human hands have made' will become an
offering unto God. Bread is made from grains, grains are fruit from the
ground.

   But the Bible says in Genesis 4:3-5, "So it came about in the course
of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the
ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his
flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and
for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had NO REGARD."
Hebrews 9:22 says, "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all
things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is
no forgiveness." God REJECTED the offering from the ground 'fruit of
the ground' (grain or bread) and the work of human hands, but accepted
the offering of blood of a lamb (firstlings of his flock).

   The priest continues, "Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and
work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink." Again, this
is simply saying, God provided the grapes, and through man's efforts
(work of human hands), this will be offered up to God.

   Now the priest says, "Lord God, we ask you to receive us and be
pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite
hearts. (washing his hands, the priest says quietly) Lord, wash away my
iniquity; cleanse me from my sin." The priest is saying he is also a
sinner, and is asking God to accept this offering/sacrifice for the
forgiveness of his own sin.

   The priest continues, "Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be
acceptable to God, the almighty Father." This sacrifice has a definite
purpose. The forgiveness of the priests sins as well as the
congregation. The congregation responds by agreeing with the priest
that this is a sacrifice, and praying that God will accept this 'work
of human hands' - this bread and fruit of the vine (grape juice or
wine). "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise
and glory of his name, and for our good, and the good of all his
Church."

   This is obviously not a celebration but a sacrifice for the
forgiveness of sins of the people and the priest! Every day this same
sacrifice is offered all around the world by priests for sin.

   Hebrews 10:10-11 says, "By this will we have been sanctified through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest
stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same
sacrifice, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one
sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,
waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for
His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who
are sanctified."

   Jesus Christ died on the cross ONE time for all. He offered His own
BLOOD as the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin. Unlike the
sacrifice the priests continually offer, 'which can NEVER take away
sins'. Jesus made this perfect offering of Himself ONE time for all
sin, not daily; thus Jesus 'sat down'.

   The Bible says, "For is was fitting that we should have a high
priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted
above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to
offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of
the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up
Himself." Hebrews 7:26-27.

   God requires a sinless 'innocent, undefiled' Priest AND a perfect
sacrifice for our sins. The modern day priest is not perfect, and the
sacrifice of bread and wine is still not acceptable to God! These are
all unacceptable because they are fruits of the ground, and not BLOOD.
1 Peter 1:18-19 "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable
things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from
your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and
spotless, the blood of Christ." Note 'unblemished' ie. PERFECT.

   Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves, it it the gift of God; not as a
result of works, that no one should boast." God does not accept the
'work of human hands' for the forgiveness of our sins. Instead,
forgiveness comes as a free gift, which only Jesus Christ, the perfect
High Priest, offers.

   At this point you may be saying, "I'm not so bad though, at least
not as bad as some people are". The apostle James said in James 2:10,
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has
become guilty of all." This simply means if you sinned only one time
and if your priest has sinned one time, one is as guilty as the other.

   While on the cross, Jesus Christ said "it is finished". The Mass is
never a complete work, but, rather a continually repeated work of human
hands which God has already rejected.

   Hebrews 9:24-28 says, "For Christ did not enter a holy place made
with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to
appear in the presence of God for us, nor was it that He should offer
Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year
with blood not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often
since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of
the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of
Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after
this comes judgement, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear
the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without
reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."

   Now since Jesus Christ has made the perfect sacrifice for our sins
in the presence of God, and since this sacrifice of Himself is already
completed, why bother God with a sacrifice He won't accept? In
addition, since 'after this comes judgement', don't we really want to
put our faith in a finished sacrifice, instead of one that can't take
away a single sin? Romans 5:9 "Much more then having now been justified
by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him."
Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,"

   A little footnote...to suggest that the bread and wine become the
actual body and blood of Jesus Christ during the Mass, is the same as
suggesting that Jesus lied when He said "It is finished"; or His
sacrifice on the cross was incomplete!

   Hebrews 10:29-31 says, "How much severer punishment do you think he
will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has
regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was
sanctified and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who
said, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.' And again, 'The Lord will judge
His people.' It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the
living God." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, second person of the
trinity, died only one time for all your sins. He provided absolute
proof of His deity by raising Himself from the dead. You will someday
stand before Him, all alone - and you'll have to give account of your
unbelief or your acceptance of what you've just read. There will be no
appeals, no plea bargaining, and no excuses, just Judgement - and all
based on His Word, the Bible.

   Hebrews 7:25-28 sums it all up: "Hence, also, He is able to save
forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives
to make intercession for them; who does not need daily, like those high
priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for
the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He
offered up Himself." Why not by faith, place all of your trust and hope
in the perfect sacrifice Jesus Christ made for your sins nearly 2000
years ago. Repent and Reject the sacrifice made with human hands - as
God already has; and receive God's own Son into your heart, trusting
Him and Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins and salvation of
your soul. Jesus FINISHED the work, now it's up to you to believe Him,
repent of your sin, and receive Him.

   All quotes from the Roman Catholic Church are from "The New Rite of
the Holy Mass", Priests of the Sacred Heart, Hales Corners, Wi. 53130
and The New American Standard Bible.

   This article originated on S.O.N.