significance of the eucharist for christian practices

STRENGTH: fosters spiritual union with christ

• The Eucharist is often viewed as a means of deepening personal communion with Christ. In many Christian traditions—especially Catholic, Orthodox, and some Anglican and Lutheran circles—the Eucharist is more than symbolic; it is a sacramental encounter with the real presence of Jesus Christ.

• This spiritual intimacy supports personal growth in holiness, gratitude, and assurance of salvation.

• Thomas Aquinas (in Summa Theologiae, III.73–83) taught that the Eucharist nourishes the soul like food nourishes the body, transforming believers into greater likeness to Christ.

COUNTER to spiritual union: zwingli

• Reformed thinkers like Ulrich Zwingli (16th century) argue that the Eucharist is purely symbolic—a public remembrance rather than an ontological transformation. Zwingli believed that Christ is spiritually present, but not physically or sacramentally. This view critiques Catholic and Orthodox theology as relying on metaphysical claims that are unprovable and possibly superstitious.

• Zwingli rejected transubstantiation (Catholic) and the Orthodox notion of mystical real presence, arguing that these depend on unverifiable metaphysical claims.

• Catholic doctrine (e.g., Council of Trent) relies on Aristotelian metaphysics: the bread’s substance is changed, while its accidents (appearance, taste) remain. Zwingli rejected this framework as unbiblical and philosophically obscure.

• He considered belief in Christ’s physical presence in the bread and wine to be superstitious, akin to medieval magical thinking.

• These views suggest that believers might develop a mechanical faith, depending on sacramental rituals rather than living trust in Christ.

STRENGTH: communal identity + ecclesial unity

• The Eucharist functions not just as an individual experience but as a communal act that creates and maintains the corporate body of Christ, the Church.

• By partaking of “one bread,” as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:17, believers are reminded that they are one body, united not only to Christ but to one another.

• This liturgical act can promote forgiveness, reconciliation, and a sense of shared identity—especially powerful in multicultural or divided congregations.

• Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, in Being Christian (2014), highlights how the Eucharist is a foretaste of the eschatological feast, where boundaries of class, ethnicity, and status are transcended. He sees it as a site where God's justice breaks into human society.

COUNTER to ecclesial unity: mcgrath

• The Eucharist has been a major source of doctrinal division among Christians, especially between Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions. Disagreements over transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and symbolic presence often lead to mutual exclusion from Communion.

• Many churches (e.g. Catholic) practice closed communion, allowing only baptized, confirmed, and doctrinally aligned members to partake. This practice may alienate seekers or ecumenically minded believers.

• Alister McGrath, in Christian Theology: An Introduction, notes that despite Jesus’ call to unity, “the Eucharist has become one of the most divisive practices in Christian history.” This theological complexity often discourages active lay engagement.

WEAKNESS: ritualism and spiritual complacency

• When the Eucharist is celebrated frequently or with poor catechesis, it may become habitual and disengaging, with participants going through the motions.

• Without a personal sense of awe or reflection, the sacrament risks becoming a cultural ritual, especially in societies where religious affiliation is nominal.

• Dietrich Bonhoeffer warns against “cheap grace”—grace received without cost or transformation. He saw this kind of faith as a danger in sacramental traditions where people believe they are spiritually safe just by participating in rites.

COUNTER to ritualism: SL/ aquinas’ habituation

argues that virtue stems from constant practice, and regular ritual

COUNTER to cheap grace: inspires ethical transformation

Inspires Ethical Transformation and Imitation of Christ

• The Eucharist commemorates Christ’s sacrifice and self-giving love, which believers are called to imitate. This practice thus becomes a model of Christian ethics, especially regarding love, humility, and service.

• Many believers examine their lives before receiving Communion (following 1 Corinthians 11:28), which leads to repentance, reconciliation, and a resolve to live out Christ’s teachings more fully.

• The Eucharist also creates a rhythm of moral renewal, acting as both a reminder and a means of grace.

• Stanley Hauerwas, in A Community of Character, argues that the Eucharist creates a narrative and moral framework for Christian identity. By reenacting Christ’s death, believers learn how to resist the dominant social norms (e.g. violence, consumerism) and embody a countercultural ethic.