When the Church tells you that Jesus comes down to the altar, to be sacrificed, and Jesus said ‘It is finished’, in whom do you put your trust

If Jesus Said “It Is Finished,” Why Do Catholics Believe He Comes to the Altar?

by Keith Abell RPh MI
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
(Question 5 of the “In Whom Do You Put Your Trust?” Series)

---

This is question 5 in my 18-part series responding to questions raised by a fundamentalist who challenged my Catholic faith years ago. These questions aren’t easy—they’re designed to shake confidence in what we believe. And if you’re a cradle Catholic who has “just gone with it” all your life, this series is for you. Because understanding your faith isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Today’s question is one that has confused many Catholics and divided Christians for centuries:

“When the Church tells you that Jesus comes down to the altar, at the beck and call of a priest to be sacrificed, and Jesus said ‘It is finished’ and that by one offering man can have salvation, in whom do you put your trust?”

At first glance, this sounds convincing. After all, Jesus did say “It is finished” on the Cross (John 19:30). So why do Catholics believe the Eucharist is truly Christ—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—made present at every Mass? Why do we believe the sacrifice of Calvary is present on the altar? And in whom do we put our trust—Christ alone, or Christ and the Church He founded?

Let’s dig deep, because this question strikes at the heart of the Catholic faith.

The Misunderstanding

The accusation that Jesus comes down “at the beck and call of a priest” misrepresents Catholic teaching. The Church does not teach that priests summon Christ or sacrifice Him again. The Mass is not a new sacrifice. It is the one sacrifice of Calvary made present sacramentally.

At every Mass, we obey Jesus’ command, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19).

This is not human power at work. It is God’s action through Christ and the Holy Spirit. The priest acts in persona Christi—in the person of Christ—praying to the Father through the Son, while the Holy Spirit transforms bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. This is why the Catechism calls the Eucharist “the source and summit of the Christian life.”

What Did Jesus Mean by “It Is Finished”?

When Jesus said “It is finished” (John 19:30), He was declaring the completion of His Paschal sacrifice—the fulfillment of the Old Covenant Passover.

At the Last Supper, Jesus began the Passover meal but did not drink the final cup. He said, “I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18).

On the Cross, He drinks from the sponge on the hyssop stick (John 19:29), completing the Passover. His blood and water flow from His side, making Him the true Paschal Lamb. The old Passover is finished because Jesus Himself becomes the Passover. The Eucharist is now the New Passover, and when we celebrate it, we are mystically present at Calvary, united to that one eternal sacrifice.

One Sacrifice, Once for All

Hebrews 10:10 says Christ’s offering is “once for all.” The Mass does not repeat that sacrifice—it applies its grace to us here and now. The Eucharist is not a symbol. It is Christ Himself, the same Jesus who died and rose for us. At every Mass, heaven touches earth, and we receive the living Christ who said:

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:51).

And again:

“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (John 6:53).

This is why Catholics respond as Peter did:

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

Why We Trust Jesus—and His Church

Here’s the heart of the matter: we trust Jesus, and we trust the Church He founded. Jesus promised:

“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

After the Reformation, thousands of interpretations of Scripture emerged. But Christ gave us the Church as the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15). He guaranteed that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. That means the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, safeguards the truth of the Eucharist.

The Witness of the Early Church Fathers

From the very beginning, Christians believed the Eucharist is truly Christ:

• St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 107 AD) wrote, “They abstain from the Eucharist because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ.”
• St. Justin Martyr (c. 155 AD) said, “We do not receive these as common bread and drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate… so we have been taught that the food blessed by the prayer of His word is the flesh and blood of that Jesus.”
• St. Irenaeus (c. 180 AD) affirmed, “The bread which is produced from the earth, when it receives the invocation of God, is no longer common bread, but the Eucharist consisting of two realities, earthly and heavenly.”

This is not a medieval invention. It is the faith of the early Church—the same faith we profess today.

Conclusion

The Eucharist is not a symbol. It is Christ Himself, the same Jesus who said “It is finished” and offered His life for us. At every Mass, we are united to His one sacrifice—the Paschal Mystery—made present by His power.

So, in whom do we put our trust? In Jesus Christ, who gives Himself to us as spiritual food for eternal life. And in the Church He founded, which has faithfully taught this truth for 2,000 years. Jesus Himself guaranteed this when He said:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

This promise matters. It means the Church will never be overcome by error or destruction. It means the truth of the Eucharist is safeguarded by Christ Himself.

Next time you go to Mass, pause and remember: you are not just attending a ritual—you are standing at Calvary. You are at the foot of the Cross, united to the one eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let that reality transform the way you worship.

If this post helped you understand the Paschal Mystery more deeply, share it with someone who needs to know the truth about the Eucharist. And don’t forget to subscribe or follow this series so you won’t miss Part 6, where we’ll tackle another challenge to our Catholic faith.

---

Prayer for Understanding the Paschal Mystery

Lord Jesus Christ, open our hearts and minds to the mystery of Your love. Help us to see the Eucharist as Your true Body and Blood, given for our salvation. Deepen our faith so that we may never take this gift for granted. Unite us to Your sacrifice and make us living witnesses of Your presence in the world. Amen.