The “Just Once” and “Once for Ever” of the Word of God

Abstract

The text asks the question about the role of the Word of God in connection with Pascha and its being made present in the liturgy. The article first refers to Joseph Ratzinger’s theology of liturgy. According to the Bavarian theologian, in Christian worship the historical event of the Passover (“just once”) corresponds to its continuous actuality (“once for ever”). The essence of Jesus’ words and actions – as the Son of the Father – at the Last Supper remains always present. It is then shown that the inspired writings can only be understood in connection with the words of institution at the Last Supper. The privileged time for listening to the word of God is the liturgy, during which Christ-the Lamb becomes the Exegete who opens up the deepest sense of Scripture (“Eucharistic hermeneutics”). An analogy is then presented between the entry of the past Passover into the present of the liturgy and the actualization of the events witnessed in the inspired books. This kind of “making present” is related to the sacramental transformation of the Jewish scriptures and feasts that Christ accomplished. The historical experience is not recreated, but recapitulated in the Eucharistic Passover. In the Blessed Sacrament Christ is also present in the spoken (and written under inspiration) word. In turn, the liturgy of the word is the verbal aspect of the sacramental action.