Eucharist as a Sacrifice

Abstract

In some traditional theology and piety. the death of Jesus, his ultimate sacrifice on the cross. is understood as an expiatory act. aimed solely at pleasing His Father, whose image we (His children) have damaged by sin and disobedience. Is this understanding of Christ's sacrifice sufficient? In this article the author answers in the negative The sacrifice of Christ. properly considered, is a life-giving Eucharist which invites all men and women to an active commitment to the task of reconciliation, and changing the unjust and oppressive structures of contemporary society. It is only in this way that the Eucharist makes sense as a sacrifice.