The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) - Day 88: Christ’s Definitive Sacrifice (2024)

Episode Date: March 28, 2024

Christ’s death is the unique and definitive sacrifice. It is both the Paschal Sacrifice that accomplishes redemption and the sacrifice of the New Covenant that restores man’s communion with God. Fr. Mike tell us that Jesus Christ is the one mediator, and yet invites us to participate in his sacrifice when he calls on us to take up our crosses and follow him. When we accept our sufferings out of love, we are united to Christ. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 613-623. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz and you're listening to the Catechism in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's plan of sheer goodness for us, revealed in scripture and passed down through the tradition of the Catholic faith. The Catechism in a Year is brought to you by Ascension. In 365 days, we will read through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, discovering our identity in God's family as we journey together toward our heavenly home. It is Day 88. We're reading paragraphs 6, 13 to 6, 23. As always, I'm using the Ascension edition of the Catechism, which includes the Foundations of Faith approach,

but you can follow along with any recent version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You can also download your Catechism in a year reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash C-I-Y. And you can click follow or subscribe in your podcast app for daily updates and daily notifications. It is day 88 today. You know, we've been talking about, what is it to talk about the trial of Jesus, to talk about the death of Jesus? What is it to say that Jesus was crucified? How does that save us?

Well, we've been talking about how His yes to the Father has been remarkable. That His yes to the Father out of love for the Father and also His yes to the Father has been remarkable. That his yes to the Father out of love for the Father and also his yes to the Father out of love for us is remarkable. Remember, we talked about how Christ's whole life yesterday, Christ's whole life is an offering to the Father. And not only that, but also he gives us himself, not only on the cross,

he even offers himself to the Father on the cross, but also he offers himself to us freely in the Eucharist. As is that incredible participation. It's been said that when you are at the altar, like when you're at the mass, you're at the foot of the cross in Calvary. That that is, you're not only at the Last Supper, you're also at Golgotha, you're also at Calvary,

which is just remarkable and a mystery. Today we're gonna talk about how Christ's death is the unique and a mystery. Today we're going to talk about how Christ's death is the unique and definitive sacrifice. One of the things that we remember and we recall that we understand is that Christ's death is not an execution. I mean, yes, from the Roman's perspective, from maybe even people passing by their perspective is that this is merely an execution. Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever thought about to the casual observer of the crucifixion, they would have merely seen another Roman execution. But for us, we understand that Christ's death is not merely an execution. It is a sacrifice, that he is freely going to the cross. He is freely offering up himself because he, in Barerast 613,

it says, Christ's death is both the paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men remember he's the lamb of god who takes away the sins of the world and the sacrifice of the new covenant which restores man to commune with god by reconciling him to god through the blood of the covenant which is both of those pieces are just so powerful incredible he's the pasal sacrifice, which redeems human beings and the sacrifice of the new covenant, which restores us to communion with God, which is remarkable.

And also 614, the sacrifice of Christ is unique. It completes and surpasses all other sacrifices. Remember that when we read the Old Testament, there's all of those sacrifices. When we talked about the tada offering, right? The thank offering, there's the sin offering, there's all of those sacrifices. We talked about the Tadah offering, right? The thank offering. There's the sin offering. There's all these offerings. Christ's sacrifice completes and surpasses all of those other sacrifices. You know, it said that every priest stands at his duty in the Old Covenant, right? And offers up sacrifices.

But Jesus is the priest who doesn't offer up a sacrifice outside of himself. He's a priest who is the sacrifice as well, which is just again incredible. Paragraph 615 goes on to note that Jesus substitutes his obedience for our disobedience, which is incredible. 616, 617, that it's the love to the end, that Christ's sacrifice on the cross. It is love to the end that Christ sacrificed on the cross. It is love to the end that confers on Christ sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. Remember, we talked about this before that yes, Christ endured an incredible agony, more agony than we could possibly imagine.

It wasn't merely the pain that saved us. It was the love that bore the pain, right? It's the love that entered into the pain that saved us. It was the love that bore the pain, right? It's the love that entered into the pain. It was the obedience that is redemption, reparation. It is atonement and satisfaction. It is love to the end that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value. And we want to highlight that. And then lastly, before our in brief today, is our participation in Christ's sacrifice. So this is yes about what Jesus Himself did for us, and you know, unmerited that He did unwarranted on our part, but He did out of love for us. But then we are called to participate in Christ's sacrifice. We are called in a way only known to

God. The possibility of being made partners in the paschal mystery, right? That we can actually participate in the incredible sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to his father. And that's what our lives are meant to be, all right? Our lives are meant to be conformed to that yes of Jesus to his father. So we're gonna talk about that today. And then we have, you know, about five little bullets

are in brief nuggets at the end of today. So let's say a prayer as we kick off this day, day 88, father in heaven We praise you and we give you glory. We thank you so much for giving us your only son whom you love To be a sacrifice for sinners And we thank you Jesus Christ. We thank you for your obedience to the father we thank you for not only being the model of what it is to trust in the father, but also For being the priest for being the sacrifice,

for being the one who not only offered, but the one who was offered. Help us to say yes as well. Help us to have the same obedience that you had, Jesus, to the Father. And Father, may everything that we do this day, whether it be full of joy or full of pain, whether it be full of love or full of grief. We ask that everything we go through today be offered to you, just like Jesus offered everything to you. It is in His name that we pray.

Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. As I said, it's day 88. We're reading paragraphs 613 to 623 Christ's death is the unique and definitive sacrifice Christ's death is both the paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men through the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world And the sacrifice of the new covenant which restores man to communion with God By reconciling him to God through the blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

This sacrifice of Christ is unique. It completes and surpasses all other sacrifices. First, it is a gift from God the Father himself, for the Father handed his Son over to sinners in order to reconcile us with himself. At the same time, it is the offering of the Son of God made man who in freedom and love offered his life to his Father through the Holy Spirit in reparation for our disobedience. Jesus substitutes his obedience for our disobedience. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous. By his obedience unto death, Jesus accomplished the substitution of the suffering servant who makes himself an offering for sin when he bore the sin of many,

and who shall make many to be accounted righteous, for he shall bear their iniquities. Jesus atoned for our faults and made satisfaction for our sins to the Father. Jesus consummates his sacrifice on the cross. sins to the Father. Jesus consummates His sacrifice on the cross. It is love to the end that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when He offered His life. As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, Now the love of Christ controls us, because we

are convinced that one has died for all, therefore all have died. No man, not even the holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men and offer himself as a sacrifice for all. The existence in Christ of the Divine Person of the Son, who at once surpasses and embraces all human persons and constitutes himself as the head of all mankind makes possible his redemptive sacrifice for all. The Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of Christ's sacrifice as the source

of eternal salvation and teaches that his most holy passion on the wood of the cross merited justification for us. And the Church venerates his cross as it sings, Hail, O Cross, our only hope. Our Participation in Christ's Sacrifice The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the one mediator between God and men. But because in His incarnate Divine Person He has in some way united Himself to every man, the possibility of being made partners in a way known to God in the Paschal Mystery is offered to all men.

He calls his disciples to take up their cross and follow him, for Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example so that we should follow in his steps. In fact, Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering. St. Rose of Lima noted, Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. In brief, Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. Our salvation

flows from God's initiative of love for us, because He loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Jesus freely offered Himself for our salvation beforehand. During the Last Supper, He both symbolized this offering and made it really present, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. The redemption won by Christ consists in this, that he came to give his life as a ransom for many, that is, he loved his own to the end so that they might be ransomed from the

futile ways inherited from their fathers. By his loving obedience to the Father unto death, even death on a cross, Jesus fulfills the atoning mission of the suffering servant who will make many righteous and He shall bear their iniquities. Day 88, paragraphs 613 to 623. I think it is worth highlighting the fact that we may not reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as often as we ought. I mean, yes, during Lent we typically will make the stations of the cross, you know, the way of the cross. Sometimes, you know, during when we pray the sorrowful mysteries,

of course, we focus on the agony of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and is scourging and is crowning with thorns, carrying of the cross and his crucifixion But the reality of course is that the sacrifice of Christ is a daily part of our lives a once-for-all right? He's he offered himself once for all and at the same time this once-for-all sacrifice is Is a part of our daily lives. I love this um Paragraph 614 where it notes this sacrifice of Christ You know which is the paschal sacrifice and the sacrifice of the new notes this sacrifice of Christ, which is the Paschal sacrifice and the sacrifice of the new covenant.

This sacrifice of Christ is unique. It completes and surpasses all other sacrifices. We noted that at the beginning of this day where we talked about the old covenant sacrifices that completes and surpasses all of them. And it highlights two things. First, it is a gift from the Father himself. Four, the Father handed his Son over to sinners in order to reconcile us with Himself.

So this remarkable reality that the Sacrifice of Christ is a gift from the Father, which is given to us in a remarkable way. At the same time, the last sentence of paragraph 614 says, At the same time, it is the offering of the Son of God made man who in freedom and love Offered his life to his father through the Holy Spirit in reparation for our disobedience So it's a gift from the father and as a gift for the father. It was just amazing. In fact that phrasing Man, I love this who in freedom and love offered his life to the to his father through the Holy Spirit in reparation for our disobedience You know that that's one of the ways we we

describe the mass that the mass is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit every time you would amass that is what is happening that at the altar it is the unbloody sacrifice of Christ right in the Eucharist we're're gonna talk about this mystery when we get to that section, that second pillar. But at the Mass, it is the unbloody sacrifice of Jesus Christ. What is it?

It is Jesus offering himself to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. We get to participate in that, which is incredible. And that's why the Mass accomplishes two ends every single time. Every single time we celebrate the Mass and participate in the Mass, it does two things. One, it gives glory to the Father. The mass accomplishes two ends every single time. Every single time we celebrate the mass and participate in the mass, it does two things.

One, it gives glory to the Father. And secondly, it saves the world. I mean, it redeems the world. In fact, we even pray this at every mass. You know, there's this moment where the priest says to the congregation, pray my brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.

And then the congregation responds, may the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands. And here's this key, A, for the praise and glory of his name, and B, for our good and the good of all his holy church. So we recognize that we offer the sacrifice, again, priest and people united with Jesus, the great high priest,

offering up this sacrifice to the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, A, for the glory of the Father, and B, for the good of the whole church, A, for the glory of the Father, and B, for the good of the whole church, and essentially for the salvation of the entire world, which is remarkable, incredible. That's one of the ways that paragraph 618, we participate in Christ's sacrifice.

Where again, 618 says, the cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ. He is the one mediator between God and man. That's 100%, he's the only one who does this. As earlier on we noted that no person, no matter how holy they work, could ever bear the sins of everyone. So Jesus is the one mediator.

But because in his incarnate divine person, he has in some way united himself to every man. Think about those words. His incarnate divine person, right? So he is a divine person who's incarnated. So he has a human, he's embraced humanity, right? He's joined himself to humanity. Because of that, because he's united himself to every man, the possibility of being made partners in a way known to God in the paschal mystery is offered to all men. That's from Gaudi Metzpez in the Second Vatican Council, which is just remarkable. The possibility of being made partners

in a way known to God in the Paschal Mystery is offered to all of us. To be able to participate in A, that sacrifice that gives glory to the Father, and B, that sacrifice that redeems the world. You have a share in that. You get to participate in this as well. No, the last thing I just want to emphasize and point to is paragraph 616, where we already noted

this but it's worth kind of ending on this today. It is love to the end that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life. Which is again, remarkable. One of the things that we note and have to remember at all times is that God loves you. I mean, just truly. Again, remember we've said this a thousand times. This is not about information transfer.

This is about transformation. It's not just about data. This is about conversion. This is not just about, I know a bunch of things about God, but I love Him. And He loves you. So powerfully, He knew and loved us all when He offered His life. And now, St. Paul says, the love of Christ controls us because we're convinced that one has died for all, therefore all have died. The existence of Christ in the divine person of the Son, because he is God, that makes possible

his redemptive sacrifice for all. Because he is God, he can offer himself. And because he's human, he's offering himself for us all, which is incredible. We get to share in this. Again, that's one of the reasons why, last couple days talking about, praying for those who don't know Jesus don't know of his great love for them again

whether they're part of a religion or not part of a religion whether they're raised in the church and walked away or Whatever happened. We want them all to know this because this is the good news That yes, we have this world that is beautiful, but broken you have this world that is good, but Yes, we have this world that is beautiful but broken. We have this world that is good but fallen. And we are our own hearts, your own heart and my own heart, beautiful but broken and good but fallen. And into this world, good but broken,

beautiful but fallen is God's love. Can you imagine walking through this world, walking through life, not knowing this, not knowing that not only is there a God and there's a God who is good and there's a God who cares about you, who knows your name and who loves you, but the God who offered himself for you,

the God who knew and loved us all when he offered his life. That is incredible news and he gives us a share in his passion So today I'm praying that all of us will let this truth penetrate our hearts that all of us will Not only know about the fact that we have a share in his passion, but to embrace that To embrace that share in his passion for the salvation of the world and for the Father's glory Let's pray for each other. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is father Mike and I wait to see you tomorrow God bless