A Banqueter's Guide To The All-Night Soup Kitchen Of The Kingdom Of God

by Patrick T. McCormick

Overview

When Jesus spoke at the tale he provided instructions for his disciples to follow. A Banqueter's Guide to the All-Night Soup Kitchen of the Kingdom of God views those teachings as a set of guidelines for us to follow in all areas of life. Through the study of metaphors commonly used to describe the Eucharist, this book connects the Eucharist and Jesus' words and actions with current issues in society. Each chapter defines a metaphor associated with the Eucharist and explores its moral, social, and ethical implications. Readers will become more aware of the need for social justice as they identify with the parables and guidance of Jesus.

Chapters are: Take and Eat," *Breaking Bread, - *This is My Body, - and *An Unbloody Sacrifice. -

Patrick T. McCormick, STP, is associate professor of Christian ethics at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814629550
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	02/01/2004
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Patrick T. McCormick is professor of religious studies at Gonzaga University. He is the author of A Banqueter's Guide to the All Night Soup Kitchen of the Kingdom of God (Liturgical Press, 2004) and has written a monthly column on Christianity and culture for U.S. Catholic since 1994.

Table of Contents

	Preface--"Do This in Memory of Me"	ix
Chapter 1	Take and Eat	1
	A Sacrament of Eating and Drinking	1
	The Meaning of Eating and Drinking: Recognizing Ourselves as Hungry Eaters	5
	Food and Hunger	5
	Food and Grace	8
	Food and Pleasure	10
	America's Dis-Ease with Food	13
	Too Much Dieting	14
	Too Much Fa(s)t Food	15
	Too Much Hunger	16
	Unconscious Eating in America	17
	Eating the "Fruit of the Earth" Unconsciously	18
	Eating the "Work of Human Hands" Unconsciously	21
	Unconscious Consumers	24
	The Eucharist and Eating Consciously	25
	Remembering Our Hunger, and the Hunger of the Poor	26
	Remembering God's Graciousness	28
	From Memory to Mission	30
Chapter 2	The Breaking of the Bread	39
	A School for Manners	39
	Hospitality: Making Room for the Poor	43
	An Ancient Virtue	43
	Jesus and Hospitality	45
	Eucharistic Hospitality	48
	Present Challenges	50
	Friendship: Welcoming Outcasts and Sinners	52
	The Friend of Sinners and Outcasts	53
	Friendship at the Eucharistic Table	57
	Present Challenges	59
	Service: Dismantling Hierarchies	61
	A Sign of Contradiction	61
	Jesus' Table Service	63
	Eucharistic Table Service	66
	Present Challenges	67
	Conclusion	68
Chapter 3	"This Is My Body"	73
	Recognizing the Body of Christ	73
	What it Means to Be Somebody	75
	Taking Bodies Seriously	80
	The Eucharist and the Church	85
	Solidarity with the Bodies of the Poor	91
	Solidarity with the Bodies of Women	96
	Kinship with the Bodies and Body of Creation	101
	Conclusion	106
Chapter 4	An Unbloody Sacrifice	111
	The Sacrifice of the Mass	111
	The Problem of Sacrifice	115
	Our Scapegoats	118
	"Mercy, Not Sacrifice"	122
	The God of the Scapegoats	123
	The God Who Becomes the Scapegoat	127
	The Un-Sacrifice of Christ	130
	The Metaphor of Sacrifice	131
	Christ's "Un-sacrifice"	134
	A Remembrance of Christ's Un-Sacrifice	136
	Sacrificial Amnesia	137
	A Dangerous Memory	139
	Conclusion	143

Editorial Reviews

[F]resh reading of the tradition that includes a careful exegesis of Scripture, official church documents, the writings of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of a diverse group of theologians. . . . it is highly recommended both for individual and group study.
Rite


Regardless of whether a person's formative years were before, during, or after the Second Vatican Council, the content and style of this book invite meaningful reflection on the relationship between the Eucharist and justice.
New Theology Review


If you are concerned at all about the poor around us, this book will stir you to action.
Liguorian


. . . well worth the read for pastoral ministers—in particular, preachers, liturgists, and catechists.
Pastoral Music


. . . a good discussion starter for a faith-sharing community with special interest in Catholic social teaching.
Buena Vista Resource Page


Many authors acknowledge the connection between Eucharist and justice. Pat McCormick goes a big step further by explaining and illustrating the connection. He does so using clever and colorful prose that will delight readers and enrich their spirits.
Kenneth R. Himes, O.F.M., Chair, Department of Theology, Boston College


A profound meditation on the intersection of liturgy and discipleship. We see just how Eucharist leads us to a life for justice - and nourishes us to achieve it. What a joy when scholarship is yoked to realism - and placed at the service of believers. A rich resource for reflection by liturgy teams, preachers, adult education groups, and gatherings of believers meeting for Lenten renewal. This book would make a valuable gift from pastors to the members of their congregations.
Timothy E. O'Connell, Ph.D., Professor of Christian Ethics, Loyola University Chicago


Pat McCormick has written a book that challenges almost as gently and unrelentingly as the Eucharist itself. His creative and faithful presentation of the Catholic tradition of Eucharist as bread, table, body, and sacrifice gives more than a menu. It shows that remembering Jesus means practicing God's justice.
Rev. Jim Dallen, Religious Studies Department, Gonzaga University

From the Publisher