Seven Baskets Full : The All-Embracing Lord's Supper

Contents - Seven Baskets Full : The All-Embracing Lord's Supper Acknowledgements Preface Abbreviations Prologue - A Disturbing Question Part One - Scripture 1. Meal-Sharing in the Old Testament A. Hospitality Meals A1. Gods as Hosts and as Guests A2. Yahweh as Host and as Guest A3. Welcoming Guests A4. Domiciling Guests B. Other Meals B1. Family Meals B2. Festive Meals B3. Covenantal Meals B4. Sacrificial Meals B5. Sapiential Meals B6. Prophetical Meals B7. Pilgrimage Meals B8. Idolatrous Meals Conclusion 2. The Meals Jesus Shared A. Jesus as Host A1. The Good Shepherd A2. The Living Water A3. The Heavenly Bread A4. The Nourishing Word A5. The Compassionate Host B. Jesus as Guest B1. With Marginalized Sinners B2. With Rich Patrons B3. With Loving Friends B4. With Sanctimonious Pharisees Conclusion 3. The Last Supper A. The Last Supper as an Event A1. The Occasion of the Meal A2. The Venue of the Meal A3. The Participants at the Meal A4. The Menu of the Meal A5. The Blessings during the Meal B. The Last Supper as a Message B1. The Message Enacted B2. The Message Explained Conclusion 4. The Silence of the New Testament A. The Silence of the Synoptics A1. The Gospel of Mark A2. The Gospel of Matthew A3. The Gospel of Luke B. The Silence of the Acts of the Apostles B1. The Pre-Pauline Phase B2. The Pauline Phase C. The Silence of Paul C1. The Pauline Letters C2. The Deutero-Pauline Letters C3. The Pastoral Letters D. The Silence of the Johannine Corpus D1. The Gospel of John D2. The Johannine Letters D3. The Book of Revelation E. The Other New Testament Writings E1. The Letter to the Hebrews E2. The Remaining Letters Conclusion Part Two - History 5. The Lord’s Supper in the Early Church A. Sharing in the Ecclesial Communion A1. A Community of Faith: A Covenantal Meal A2. The Fellowship of Love: A Family Meal A3. Living in Hope: A Sacrificial Meal A4. Accepting the Local Food: A Contextualized Meal A5. The Power of Prayer: An Empowering Meal A6. The Meaning of Conversion: An Inclusive Meal A7. The Salt of the Earth: An Appetizing Meal A8. The Light of the World: An Attractive Meal A9. The Emmaus Disciples: A Synodal Meal A10. Religious Life: A Forgotten Meal B. Sharing in the Cosmic Communion B1. An Effective Remembering B2. Remembering as Thanksgiving B3. Remembering as Caring C. Sharing the Flesh of the Lamb C1. Christ Our Passover C2. The Lucan Variant C3. Promoting Social Justice D. Sharing the Blood of the Lamb D1. Remembering with Faith D2. Remembering with Hope D3. Remembering with Love D4. Remembering with Horror Conclusion 6. The Apostolic Fathers A. The First Letter of Clement A1. Clement’s Letter to the Corinthians A2. Church Unity More Important than Cult A3. Ministries within the Church A4. Authentic Life as Real Worship A5. Love: The Source of Christian Unity B. The Second Letter of Clement B1. The Church as the Body of Christ B2. Love as Authentic Worship C. Ignatius of Antioch C1. A Blazing Meteor C2. United in Praise and Thanksgiving C3. Jesus Fully Human C4. A Concern for Order C5. Many Eucharistic Symbols C6. The Primacy of Love C7. The Importance of Prayer D. Polycarp of Smyrna D1. Compassion Greater than Cult D2. Living for Christ as True Martyrdom E. The Didache E1. Contextualizing Christian Life E2. The Eucharist as Independent of the Last Supper E3. The Eucharist as an Easter Celebration E4. The Poor as Our Priests F. The Epistle of Barnabas F1. Towards Spiritual Religion F2. Religion without Temples F3. Love as Real Worship G. The Shepherd of Hermas G1. Love as Liturgy G2. The Importance of Prayer G3. The Concern for the Needy as True Fasting G4. A Church Built with Living Stones H. The Epistle to Diognetus H1. False Worship H2. Christians without Minority Rights H3. Religionless Christians Conclusion 7. The Early Apologists A. Aristides of Athens A1. The Defective Worship of Unenlightened People A2. The Concern for Others as True Worship B. Justin the Martyr B1. Justin’s Writings B2. Offerings and Sacrifices Unnecessary B3. A Virtuous Life as Authentic Worship B4. The Eucharistic Gifts as the Remembrance of Christ B5. The Eucharist as the Remembrance of the Needy C. Tatian the Assyrian C1. The Idol-worshipping Greek Philosophers C2. The God-seeking Christian Barbarians D. Athenagoras of Athens D1. The Works of Athenagoras D2. Degrading Religion D3. Ennobling Morality D4. Contemplation: The Realization of Our Humanity D5. Cannibalism: A Violation of Our Humanity E. Theophilus of Antioch E1. The Apology of Theophilus E2. Distorted Religion E3. Enlightened Religion F. Clement of Alexandria F1. The Writings of Clement F2. Conversion as Rejection of Futile Religion F3. Caring for the Needy as Real Sacrifice F4. Mutual Love as the True Eucharist F5. The Objectification of Symbols as Religious Bankruptcy F6. Contemplative Prayer as Christian Maturity Conclusion 8. The Later Apologists A. Tertullian of Carthage A1. Tertullian: A Prolific Writer A2. Jesus: From Carnal Sacrifices to Spiritual Worship A3. Bread and Wine: Mere Figures and Representations A4. Baptism: The Sacrament of Christ A5. The Eucharist: A Symbol of Concern A6. The Discipleship of Jesus: The Only Christian Sacrifice B. Marcus Minucius Felix B1. The Worship of Helpless Gods and Goddesses B2. A Worship without Altars and Temples C. Arnobius of Sicca C1. Pagan Worship: Cultic Sacrifices Useless C2. Christian Worship: Cultic Sacrifices Unnecessary D. Lactantius of Nicomedia D1. Cultic Religion: A Convenient Escape D2. Deep Values: A Difficult Commitment D3. Wise Religion: Sustained Contemplation D4. Religious Wisdom: Effective Justice D5. Enlightening Silence: Silencing Confusion Conclusion 9. Some Ante-Nicene Fathers A. Irenaeus of Lyons A1. An Authentic Theologian A2. Authentic Humanity: Journeying beyond Boundaries A3. Authentic Sacrifices and Altars: Justice and Love A4. Authentic Statues and Temples: Kind Persons and Pure Hearts A5. The Authentic Eucharist: Creative Fidelity B. Hippolytus the Pseudo-Roman B1. The Writings of Hippolytus B2. Baptism: Faith More Important than the Rite B3. The Eucharist: Food Items as Symbols of Christ C. Origen the Ascetic C1. Christian Worship as Spiritual Sacrifice C2. The Eucharist as Sincerity and Truth C3 Christian Life as Contemplation D. Cyprian of Carthage D1. The Unity of the Church D2. The Lord’s Supper D3. The True Sacrament of Christ’s Real Presence E. Novatian of Rome E1. Hospitality: A Sacramental Anticipation E2. Sacraments: A Symbolic Anticipation E3. Contemplation: An Experiential Anticipation F. Methodius of Olympus F1. The Silence of Methodius F2. The Testimony of Methodius Conclusion 10. The Liturgical Traditions A. The Early Church A1. The Lucan Variants A2. The Apostolic Fathers A3. Melito of Sardis A4. The Apostolic Tradition A5. The Liturgy of Addai and Mari A6. The Apostolic Constitutions A7. The Strasbourg Papyrus B. The Eastern Churches B1. The Alexandrian Family B2. The West Syrian Family B3. The Byzantine Family B4. The Armenian Family B5. The East Syrian Family C. The Western Churches C1. The Tridentine Liturgy C2. The Gallican Liturgy C3. The Ambrosian Liturgy C4. The Mozarabic Liturgy C5. The Sarum Liturgy C6. The Vatican II Liturgy C7. Journeying Forward Conclusion Part Three - Theology 11. Identifying the Eucharistic Presence A. Some Disturbing Experiences A1. From Experiencing Truth to Formulating Dogma A2. From Commitment to Complacency A3. From Spontaneous Fellowship to Controlled Worship A4. From Empowered Persons to Powerful Institutions A5. From Humble Servants to Arrogant Lords B. Conciliar Teaching B1. The Pre-conciliar Dispute B2. The Fourth Lateran Council B3. The Council of Trent B4. The Second Vatican Council C. Biblical Foundation C1. The Testimony of Mark C2. The Testimony of Matthew C3. The Testimony of Luke C4. The Testimony of John C5. The Testimony of Paul D. Hermeneutical Discernment D1. A Cannibalistic Symbol D2. A Totemic Symbol D3. An Existential Symbol E. Theological Reflection E1. An Historical Deficit E2. A Christological Deficit E3. A Religious Deficit F. Understanding the Eucharistic Presence F1. Presence as Revelation F2. Presence as Relation F3. Presence as Renunciation F4. Presence as Remembrance F5. Presence as Response Conclusion 12. Towards the All-Embracing Lord’s Supper A. Gathering the Fruits A1. An Anthropological Presupposition A2. A Religious Presupposition A3. A Historico-Critical Presupposition A4. A Scriptural Presupposition A5. A Patristic Presupposition A6. A Liturgical Presupposition A7. A Theological Presupposition B. Sharing the Fruits B1. A Caring Fellowship B2. An Open Fellowship B3. An Egalitarian Fellowship B4. An Evangelical Fellowship B5. An Experiential Fellowship B6. A Synodal Fellowship B7. A Eucharistic Fellowship B8. A Prophetical Fellowship B9. An Eschatological Fellowship Conclusion Epilogue - A Disturbing Answer About the Auhtor Subhash Anand (born in Goa 1943, M.A. Sanskrit, Ph.D. Banaras Hindu University) retired as Professor of Indian Philosophy and Religions at Jnanadeep Vidyapeeth, Pune. His publications include Postmodern Sage Premodern Wisdom: Some Gandhian Insights (2019), The Divine Feminine: Towards A Biblical Gynaecology (2015), May They All Be One: Towards an Ecumenical Theology of the Church (2012), A Preface for an Indian Christology (2010), The Eternal Stranger: An Interpretative Study of Five Śiva Episodes in the Mahābhārata (2009), Major Hindu Celebrations: A Christian Appreciation (2008), Hindu Inspiration for Christian Reflection: Towards a Hindu- Christian Theology (2004), Hindutva: A Christian Response (2001), Story as Theology: An Interpretative Study of Five Episodes from the Mahābhārata (1996), The Way of Love: The Bhāgavata Doctrine of Bhakti (1996), Major Hindu Festivals: A Christian Appreciation (1991), The Local Church and Inculturation (1985). He has edited Wald-Bulcke Bible Bhāṣya (Hindi, 2018). His articles have appeared in the following journals: Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Asian Christian Review, Asian Horizons, Brahmavidyā: Adyar Library Bulletin, Concilium: International Journal of Theology, Dialogue, Divyadaan, Indian Journal of Spirituality, Indian Missiological Review, Indian Theological Studies, Ishvani Documentation and Mission Digest, Jeevadhara: Journal of Christian Interpretation, Jnanadeep: Pune Journal of Religious Studies, Journal of Dharma, Journal of Gandhian Studies, Journal of Indian Theology, Journal of Religious Studies, Purāṇa, Selecciones de Theologia, Third Millennium, Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, and Word and Worship. Some Pre-publication Impressions “Anand delves deeply deep into the nature, dynamics and the prophetic dimension of the Eucharist through his Seven Baskets Full. He believes that we are called not only to share in the supper of the Lord but also to make the kingdom of God our priority. I wish his book a wide readership since it is both palatable and challenging for anyone interested in the historical and pastoral dimension of the Eucharist.”  Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath ‘”With a postmodern concern, the author applies all possible methods of scrutiny to the ‘institution narratives’, together with the hermeneutics of suspicion and deconstruction techniques, unveiling the unholy shrouds that have obscured the Eucharist: ‘cultic presence’, ‘sacrificial presence’, ‘trans-substantiated’ presence, to the neglect of the real and challenging presence of the servant Lord…This volume is must for every priest to possess, read, re-read and re-live the all-embracing Lord’s Supper, and empower the laity also to live accordingly.”   Pushparajan A., PhD. “Anand’s exhaustive exploration into the multi-faceted significance of the Eucharist is a stirring call to deconstruct and reconstruct this core mystery of Christian faith. Indeed a liberative challenge for women and other excluded sections!”  Kochurani Abraham, Ph.D “The author critically examines the contemporary Roman Catholic understanding of the Eucharist. He underlines the paramount significance of the love command of Jesus in the life of Christians and of the Church. However, if questions arise in the reader’s mind apropos to the author’s choice of the resources, manner of theological interpretation and the logic applied in drawing conclusions, they are in place.” Mohan Doss,  Ph.D. “Seven Baskets Full is the result of erudite scholarship, extensive research, complete honesty and fidelity to the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The silence of the New Testament on what we are doing today in our Liturgical service and its repeated emphasis on actual living relationships is unsettling…The real challenge of the Eucharist is to be a Eucharist to others: a life giving person.” Davis George, Ph.D. “The book is informative, analytical, reflective, critical and relevant. It is a concerned and involved study which hopes to ‘enlighten’ and ‘transform’ its readers, calling them to a more contemplative lifestyle.”   Paul Raj Mariapushpam, Ph.D. “870 pages that spell undiluted revolution—prophetic insight brilliantly interwoven with scholarly research and fuelled by zeal for the downtrodden. A fearless Subhash Anand at his challenging best!”  Noemia Mascarenhas, Ph.D. “The prophetic Jesus was somehow lost amidst the liturgical practices that evolved over the centuries. In this context the book becomes relevant and challenges the many prejudices, including the patriarchal ones, surrounding the Eucharist…The book exposes how the Roman Catholic interpretation and understanding of the Eucharist have resulted in clericalism, exclusivism and non-egalitarianism and is a real road block in the ecumenical endeavours of the Church towards Christian Unity.”  Shalini Mulackal, Ph.D. “The author’s biblical and patristic investigations bring to light many valuable insights and some traditions that were lost in the course of time. The central meaning and focus of Jesus remains his main concern. It is a fabulous work providing meticulously worked out footnotes and bibliography, in order to substantiate the arguments and observations of the author.” Mathew Paikada,Ph.D. The ipsissima verba of Jesus at the Last Supper are important if we can retrieve them…Did they possess sacrificial overtones? Or, was it, as Anand contends, meant to convey Jesus’ love for his own and to evoke their participation in his cause, without any hint of atonement being considered…The Institution Narrative that served a catechetical purpose came to be used liturgically later with clear reference to the Passover, without, however, losing its concomitant catechetical intent. Assisi Saldanha, Ph.D. “Seven Baskets Full provides a holistic and deep insight into the true meaning of the community celebration of the Eucharist…It reveals how we have lived with an ‘impoverished’ idea of the Eucharist. It shows how the ritualistic practices that the Eucharist has been reduced to, have contributed to clericalism. From servant-leadership, the clergy are elevated to sharing in God’s Divine power, thus creating a disconnect and distortion between Christ’s teachings and Christian living. The book debunks myths around the Eucharist which is important for the growth of a dynamic life giving Church as People of God.” Virginia Saldanha, Feminist Theologian “The research of Anand into the Eucharistic ritual traditions has shaken us; the twelve are not seen celebrating the Eucharist; the words of institution are not always essential; finally we find the mystery of pluralism shaping Christian life and worship where the poor prophet of Nazareth continues to touch and transform lives. He is indeed not ritualistic but is for life enervating symbolic acts. Following their teacher, the early Fathers emphasized contemplation and human values, especially love and justice.” Paul Thelakat, Ph.D.