Chapter 18

Jesus himself instituted the sacraments. Just before ascending to his Father, he commissioned his disciples to go into the entire world proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, and baptizing them in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is clear that the apostles put the sacraments at the center of worship, and the generations that followed did the same. During his last Passover meal with the disciples Jesus broke bread, saying, “This is my body.” Then after the meal he passed them a cup of wine, saying, “This is my blood.” He commanded them to eat the bread and drink the cup and, while doing so, to remember him. The sacraments are not what Catholics do, they are what Christians do, which includes you and me. We should administer and receive the sacraments because Jesus commanded us to do so. But how can we make sense of them? Are they symbols only? Do they impart grace? What actually happens to Christians when they receive consecrated bread and wine, or submit to the consecrated waters of baptism? It is hard to know with any theological precision. Still, we can safely say that something real, spiritual, and efficacious happens. Once we understand this, we can begin to view all of life in a sacramental way, though Jesus, the final and perfect sacrament, must be and remain at the center. What do you learn about the sacraments and a sacramental view of life in the following texts?

Luke 3:21-22; Acts 8:26-40; Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 6; Luke 22:7-23; Luke 22:24-34; I Corinthians 11:17-26; Psalm 19

The two sacraments of baptism and Eucharist root us in Christ. A sacramental view of life shows how all of life can reflect the goodness and glory of God, but only if Jesus Christ remains at the center. We live in a fallen world, which means that the world as we experience it from day to day sends “mixed signals”—it is God’s world, meant to reflect something of his goodness and glory (see Psalm 19), but it is also broken, groaning in travail, as the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8. Still, a sacramental view of life can help us catch glimpses of God’s goodness, greatness, and glory in ordinary life. Gratitude is the discipline that trains us to look for these glimpses of God’s goodness in the world. Begin each day by asking God to help you catch these glimpses. Look for them throughout the day. Where do you see signs of God’s presence, goodness and provision? Can you become more aware of those “liminal” places and experiences? More mindful of the “thin places” of life? This is an awareness that can be developed. It requires practice. How can you begin to see life as extraordinary because God is alive and at work in the world, and in your life as well! How can you slow down to do this?

What did you learn about the sacraments from the chapter, the biblical texts, and the spiritual exercise? How did it affect your view of the two sacraments of baptism and Eucharist? How did it shape a more sacramental view of life? What impact did the practice of gratitude have on you.

Psalm 19:1-4

Psalm 103:1-5