Menyambung artikel sebelumnya yang menyatakan bahwa Gereja Katolik zaman Romawi pagan sering dituduh “memakan Tubuh dan meminum Darah Penyelamat mereka”. Uniknya orang Protestan zaman sekarang sering mendengungkan kembali hinaan ini. beberapa menambahkan larangan Taurat untuk memakan darah. Apakah yang sebenarnya terjadi?
Gereja Katolik mengajarkan sebagai kebenaran iman bahwa setelah konsekrasi terlaksana, substansi/hakikat roti akan berubah menjadi Tubuh Tuhan Yesus dan substansi/hakikat anggur akan berubah menjadi Darah Tuhan Yesus. Semua tampilan eksternal roti dan anggur tetap.
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| The Last Supper, oleh Bouveret |
Hinaan kanibalisme dan larangan hukum Taurat benar bila Tubuh dan Darah Tuhan Yesus diterima secara fisik, menurut hukum alam (kodrati). Masalahnya bukan ini yang terjadi. Kita tidak memakan kaki dan tangan Tuhan Yesus. Kita menerima Tubuh dan DarahNya tidak secara hukum alam (kodrati, natural), melainkan secara spiritual, secara sakramental. Roti dan anggur berubah menjadi Tubuh dan Darah Kristus secara adikodrati (supernatural). Konsekrasi dapat dikatakan sebagai pelanggaran hukum alam, tetapi Tuhan sendiri yang merencanakannya. Konsekrasi berlangsung secara adikodrati, secara sakramental. Kita pun menerima Tubuh dan Darah Kritus secara adikodrati. Tidak benar bila itu dikatakan sebagai kanibalisme karena kanibalisme merupakan tindakan alam. Ini dua peristiwa yang berbeda dunia. Satu adikodrati, satunya alami (kodrati).
Tuduhan kanibalisme dari Protestan mencerminkan bahwa mereka tidak mengerti doktrin Gereja dengan baik. Gereja Katolik dengan rela akan menerima tuduhan ini sebagaimana yang telah terjadi dengan Romawi pagan. Gereja akan mempersatukan penghinaan dengan penyaliban Tuhan Yesus sendiri. Pesan moral yang lain adalah: setelah mengetahui perayaan Ekaristi berlangsung secara adikodrati, masihkah kita menghadirinya dengan tidak pantas? Misalnya bercanda di Gereja, bermain blackberry, mengenakan pakaian terbuka dan tidak pantas?
Mari kita lihat bukti bahwa orang Romawi pagan sering menuduh Gereja Katolik melakukan praktik kanibalisme secara berkelompok dan teratur dalam sebuah ritual. Berikut ini penggalan tuduhan Romawi pagan kepada Gereja Katolik sebagaimana yang dilaporkan oleh Minucius Felix dalam Octavius, yang kemudian disusul oleh laporan sebenarnya dari St. Hippolytus, Bapa Gereja.
And now, as wickeder things advance more fruitfully, and abandoned manners creep on day by day, those abominable shrines of an impious assembly are maturing themselves throughout the whole world. Assuredly this confederacy ought to be rooted out and execrated. They know one another by secret marks and insignia, and they love one another almost before they know one another; everywhere also there is mingled among them a certain religion of lust, and they call one another promiscuously brothers and sisters, that even a not unusual debauchery may by the intervention of that sacred name become incestuous: it is thus that their vain and senseless superstition glories in crimes.
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| Minucius Felix |
Nor, concerning these things, would intelligent report speak of things so great and various, and requiring to be prefaced by an apology, unless truth were at the bottom of it. I hear that they adore the head of an ass, that basest of creatures, consecrated by I know not what silly persuasion, a worthy and appropriate religion for such manners. Some say that they worship the genitals of their pontiff and priest, and adore the nature, as it were, of their common parent. I know not whether these things are false; certainly suspicion is applicable to secret and nocturnal rites; and he who explains their ceremonies by reference to a man punished by extreme suffering for his wickedness, and to the deadly wood of the cross, appropriates fitting altars for reprobate and wicked men, that they may worship what they deserve. Now the story about the initiation of young novices is as much to be detested as it is well known. An infant covered over with meal, that it may deceive the unwary, is placed before him who is to be stained with their rites: this infant is slain by the young pupil, who has been urged on as if to harmless blows on the surface of the meal, with dark and secret wounds. Thirstily - O horror! they lick up its blood; eagerly they divide its limbs. By this victim they are pledged together; with this consciousness of wickedness they are covenanted to mutual silence.
From Minucius Felix, Octavius, R. E. Wallis, trans. in The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, N. Y.: The Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887), Vol. 4, pp. 177-178.
Tidak ada yang dapat sedemikian jauh dari kenyataan selain tuduhan yang ada laporan ini. Saya cuma bisa geleng-geleng membaca tuduhan yang sangat tidak sesua kenyataan. Berikutnya laporan dari Bapa Gereja, St. Hippolytus. Perhatikan betapa miripnya liturgi Perjamuan Gereja Katolik saat itu dengan sekarang. Mengagumkan betapa ketatnya Gereja Katolik mempertahankan Tradisi Rasul.
When one has been consecrated bishop all give him the kiss of peace . . . and the deacons bring him the offering . . . he layshands upon it with all the priests and gives thanks, saying, "The Lord be with you." And all answer, "And with your spirit." "Lift up your hearts." "We have lifted them up to the Lord." "Let us give thanks to the Lord." "It is right and just."
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| Yesus menetapkan Ekaristi |
And he thus continues, "We give thanks to you O God through your beloved son Jesus Christ whom in these last times you have sent to us as the redeemer and savior and messenger of your will. He is your inseparable Word, through whom you created all things and who was acceptable to you. You sent him from heaven into the Virgin's womb and in her womb he was made man and was manifested your son, born of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin. Fulfilling your will and buying for you a holy people, he stretched forth his hands when he suffered, that by his Passion he might deliver those who believed in you. When he was delivered over to his Passion of his own will, to destroy death, to break the bonds of the devil, to trample upon Hell, to enlighten the just, and to manifest his resurrection, taking bread and giving thanks to you, he said: Take and eat, this is my body which shall be broken for you. And taking likewise the cup, he said: This is my blood which shall be shed for you; when you do this, do it in memory of me. "Mindful therefore of his death and resurrection, we offer you this bread and cup, giving thanks to you because you have found us worthy to stand before you and serve you. And we beg you to send the Holy Spirit upon the offering of the holy church and gather into one all who have received it . . . that we may praise and glorify you through your son Jesus Christ, through whom is glory and honor to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in your holy church both now and forever. Amen."
From H. Achelis, Die Canones Hippolyti (Leipzig, 1881), pp. 48-55.
Yah Memang Gereja Katolik selalu dan akan selalu menderita hinaan dan untuk hal itu kita dengan gembira menyambutnya. Terpujilah Tuhan selama-lamanya.
Update 20 Mei 2012:
Tidak satu orang pun yang rela menjadi korban kanibalisme. Selalu ada unsur pemaksaan dalam kanibalisme di mana korban ditangkap, dibunuh dan dipotong sebelum akhirnya dimakan. Sebaliknya, Tuhan Yesus dengan rela memberikan Tubuh dan DarahNya bagi manusia. Ini juga menegaskan bahwa Ekaristi bukan kanibalisme.
Referensi
Troutman T. Real Presence – Does It Means Cannibalism? Catholic Fidelity.http://www.catholicfidelity.com/apologetics-topics/eucharist/real-presence-does-it-mean-cannabalism-by-time-troutman/
MacDonald D. Does Jesus Become the Eucharist (Bread), Why can’t Protestant receive Communion? http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/eucharist.htm
Halsall P. The Ritual Cannibalism Charge againts Christians. Pamphlet 179. 1998. Pope John Paul II Society of Evangelist. Hesperia. Versi elektroniknya dapat dibaca di sini.
