Paschal Sacrifice - Dr. Scott Hahn

God will provide a way out

I enjoyed the entire lesson.  But I really benefited from this part of it. At 53 minutes and 24 seconds into the video,

Dr. Hahn said:

in 1st Corinthians chapter 10 Paul says something very profound and practical

therefore and let anyone who thinks that he stands

take heed lest he fall 

we know that phrase because it's paraphrase we

we say pride goeth before the fall

but anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall 

if you think 

you're

 

rich look again you're poor

if you think you're strong look again your lame

if you think you've got 20 20 vision look at the Eucharist

and tell me what appears to be there 

we're all sharing

this kind of physical blindness in our natures

but then Paul says 

verse 13 no temptation has overtaken you that is notcommon to man

in other words don't think your temptations are unique in the problems you face

a lot of other people have the same or worse that's helpful but that's not

enough support, he goes on

to say 

God is faithful he will not let you be tempted

beyond your strength but with the temptation will also provide

the way of escape so that you may be able to endure it

and THAT is helpful that's consolation so you're not gonna face

any trial or

temptation that is unique

others have faced plus God will give you the grace

to withstand the temptation to endure

and then in almost every English translation there's a paragraph break

in mine there's actually a new subheading.  It  looks like Paul

changing the subject except the next verse begins in 

verse 14

therefore my beloved 

but that's not how you begin a new subject that's how you

draw conclusion

and Paul's  a logical thinker whenever you see him using therefore ask

what it's there for because he's about the draw an important conclusion

therefore my beloved I'm speaking as the sensible

man.   Judge for yourselves what I say,

the cup of blessing which we bless,

is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?

the bread which we break is it not a

participation in the body of Christ?

you know and the Corinthian readers just
like modern readers might look into and say,
"Yeah okay, the cup of blessing which we blessed
is a communion in the blood of Christ the bread which we break
it's a communion in the body of Christ but what's your point I mean 

you kinda zigged where we thought you'd zag
you were talking about how God who always provide
a way of escape so that you can endure whatever trials and temptations come
your way and then you seemingly change subjects or DID HE?

When we are tempted, I was on the turnpike a couple weeks ago
and everybody was first really speeding I'm at sixty-five they're going 75 I wastooand I saw this clearing you know about a mile and a half straight away
just think I can go eighty I gotta get there
and as I was about to give in to the temptation
I saw the cop before he saw me.
is that do you think that's what Paul is talking about?

That he provides the way of escape?
I don't think that's what Paul talking about!
what is he talking about what is the way of escape that he provides so that we
can endure whatever trialscome our way the very next verse 

therefore I'm speaking as the sensible

man judge for yourselves what I say

the cup of blessing which we bless

it's the Eucharist it's the Eucharist!

the Eucharist that Jesus instituted

to make his life a gift of love

not a life that was lost on Friday but a life that was given

on Thursday and approved that his body was given up to prove that His blood

would be poured out

he endured the agony of Good Friday

but only to prove that this was more than rhetoric

this is more than ritual the reality of his love is life-giving

and He gives it to us because on Easter Sunday

we have the resurrected body of Christ so that in our own mortal  bodies we can

endure trials and face temptations and not give into our own

weakness not give in to our own last or temper

our own willfulness and pride

we can take that love and transform our suffering into a holy sacrifice!

Amen!