God is our Creator, and we owe him our obedience. But from the very beginning, humanity has rebelled against him and broken his law. We too have disobeyed our Maker. Because of our sin, we are guilty before God, deserving of his judgment and in danger of hell.
Yet in his great mercy, God provided a way for sinners to be saved. In the Old Testament, he appointed Levitical priests to offer animal sacrifices on the altar. These sacrifices taught two important truths:
- The sinner deserves death as the just punishment for sin.
- But the sinner can be spared if another bears the penalty in his place.
These sacrifices pointed forward to what Jesus would accomplish. He is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Christ was righteous, perfect, and without sin. Yet he took upon himself the sins of his people. He suffered and died on the cross, bearing the full penalty that our sins deserved. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). And again, “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:28).
Scripture is clear: Christ offered one sacrifice, not many. Jesus “has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily… since he did this once for all when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:27). His sacrifice took place once in history, about 2,000 years ago, but its power and benefits remain forever.
Jesus gave the Lord’s Supper to his disciples so that, by sharing the bread and the cup, they would remember him and proclaim his death until he returns (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26). Over time, however, the understanding of this act shifted. In Catholic teaching, the Lord’s Supper became more than a way to remember Jesus—it came to be seen as an ongoing sacrifice.
In Catholic teaching, the sacrifice of Christ is said to be ‘daily renewed’ during the Mass; other Catholic sources say that ‘the work of our redemption is carried on’ and that Christ ‘daily offers Himself upon our altars for our redemption.’ (Catechism of the Council of Trent; Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church; Mediator Dei, Pius XII).
So consider this question: Is a daily sacrifice still necessary today?
Look at what Scripture tells us. God gives this comforting promise to his people: “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Based on this, the Bible concludes: “Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:17–18).
Yet during Mass, the priest asks the congregation to pray “that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.” I warmly invite you to reflect on this:
- How can we ask God to accept a sacrifice for sin when his Word assures us that “there is no longer any offering for sin”?
- Shouldn’t we take God at his word regarding his Son’s sacrifice — believing that it was offered once for all and is completely sufficient for our forgiveness?