We know, in coming to this Table, that we are solemnly and joyfully renewing our vows, and those vows include a deep commitment to stay far away from all alien tables. We cannot commune here, and at the table of demons, as St. Paul teaches. We are also committing ourselves to stay far away from men of iniquity; we do not intend to eat any of their dainties, as David puts it (Ps. 141:4). Men of iniquity would include those of licentious life, of course. But it also includes those who are respectable in the world’s eyes, but who do not remember God because their barns and bank accounts are full. It includes as well those who have leprosy of the heart and mind, men who traffic in vain philosophies and heresies. So we do not eat there.
What do we do here? We walk in the land of the living (Ps. 116:9). We believe in the Lord, and therefore we speak about Him (v. 10). Because we believe, and speak, we are greatly afflicted (v. 10). The world wants nothing more than to shut this up. We take care not to over-react. The fact that persecution comes to the righteous does not mean that all men are liars (v. 11). What then do we render to the Lord? What do we give to Him for all His saving benefits to us (v. 12)? We take here the cup of salvation (v. 13), and we call upon the name of the Lord. This is our task—to call upon Him.
This is truly the Eucharistic meal; we offer up to the Lord, here, the sacrifice of thanksgiving (v. 17). We do not offer up the blood of bulls and goats because we are members of the New Israel, and the ultimate Pascal lamb has been slain. We do not pretend to offer the physical body and blood of Jesus, because that ultimate Lamb was slain once, one offering for the entire world, and does not need to be repeatedly offered as though He could be continually dead.
Rather, we offer thanksgiving and praise; this is our sacrifice. And as we do this, we really partake of the living Christ, and we do this by faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit.