LINCOLN (SNR) – The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies will offer a morning seminar on the theme Encountering the Eucharist from Genesis to Revelation Saturday, Oct. 22.
In keeping with the National Eucharistic Revival over the next three years, aimed at “renewing the Catholic Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist,” as expressed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on their website, the seminar will aid the faithful in Eucharistic participation by reflecting on how Scripture presents the Eucharist as a whole-Bible theme.
“It’s easy to think of the Eucharist as something we read about first in the Gospels, when Jesus gathers his disciples in the Upper Room and institutes a meal for the Church to celebrate continually,” said Emmaus president, Dr. Vern Steiner. “We may not be aware that in fact the Eucharist is a theme that runs throughout the entire Bible. Our goal for this seminar is to expand our understanding and appreciation of that which lies at the heart of our faith, enabling us to enter more fully into its transforming significance.”
The Saturday morning event will feature three talks, one by each of the Emmaus teaching staff, exploring the theme from three different parts of the Bible.
Chad Steiner will begin the seminar with a talk entitled “The Eucharistic Altar as Light to the Nations.” It will focus on several texts in the early chapters of Genesis to explore the stories of the first altars—where they were built, by whom, and why, and what this has to do with the Eucharist as it is celebrated in the Mass.
In his talk “From the Passover to the Passion,” Vern Steiner will trace the development of the Passover as encountered in Exodus, and will explain how the first Passover shapes the New Passover Jesus celebrates with his disciples.
“It was an in-depth study of this theme in Exodus, while I was still a Protestant, that contributed significantly—and surprisingly—to my eventual conversion,” he noted.
Josh Burks will conclude the seminar with “The Eucharist as Covenant: The Sacrament of the New Testament.” His talk will explore a number of New Testament texts, not just the familiar institution narratives or the Bread of Life Discourse, and will explain how ‘the New Testament’ was in fact a sacrament, associated with the Eucharist, before it was a written document.
This seminar will be held Saturday, Oct. 22, at St. Patrick Church, 6111 Morrill Ave., in Lincoln. Seminar participants are encouraged to arrive by 8:30 a.m. for light refreshments catered by Harbor Coffeehouse. The talks will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and end at noon, with a catered lunch and Q&A from noon to 1 p.m.
Registration is required for this event by Thursday, Oct. 20 at www.emmausinstitute.net/courses/details/seminar. The $20 registration covers a binder of materials, refreshments, and lunch.
“It is our hope and prayer that this seminar will be both richly informing and an opportunity for God’s people to participate in the holy mysteries at the heart of our faith in new and refreshing ways,” said Dr. Steiner. “What a gift it is to spend time together listening to our Lord’s Word, especially in the divine telling of the ‘source and summit’ of our faith! We anticipate a blessed morning.”
