When Worship Walks: The Prophets' Critique Of Eucharistic Idolatry

          The Bible, particularly in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah, portrays idols as lifeless objects. In Jeremiah 10:5, idols are described as being "like a scarecrow in a cucumber field," incapable of movement or action, and entirely dependent on human intervention. Similarly, in Isaiah, idols are critiqued for being man-made and their need of being carried in processions (Isaiah 46:7). This underscores their lack of divinity and inherent power. Such descriptions highlight the distinction between the true, living God and man-made idols, which serve as reminders of human frailty and the misguided worship of physical objects.

          Eucharistic processions involve the physical carrying of the consecrated host, which Roman Catholics believe to be the real presence of Christ following the transformation of the bread and wine during the mass. Parallels exist between this practice and the descriptions of the idols in Isaiah and Jeremiah. The Catholic eucharist, like the idols, requires human action for its movement, display, and veneration. If the eucharist is treated as a sacred object and yet depends on being carried in order to be honored, it is akin to the lifeless idols denounced by the prophets. The eucharist appears as dead as can be. It does not walk. It does not talk. The eucharist does absolutely nothing on its own initiative, just like the idols condemned by God through the prophets.

          Transubstantiation, the belief that the bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ, adds another layer of complexity to this argument. While the Roman Catholic Church holds that this transformation is a profound mystery, the physical elements of the bread and wine retain their appearance, taste, and tangible qualities. This reliance on the physical objects mirrors the dependency of idols on their human creators, particularly when the eucharist must be physically handled and carried in order to facilitate acts of devotion such as processions.

          Furthermore, the practice of elevating and revering the eucharist during processions involves seen placing undue emphasis on a tangible object, aligning it with the warnings against idolatry found in Scripture. Isaiah and Jeremiah strongly condemn the worship of man-made objects, critiquing the human tendency to ascribe divine attributes to physical creations. The eucharist, even if viewed as spiritually transformed, falls into the category of idolatry as its physical form becomes the focal point of worship. It being carried in monstrances is like the idols in the Old Testament that had to be carried because they could not move.

          If eucharistic processions are acts of reverence rather than idolatry, then the distinction is not clear in practice. While the intention behind the processions is to honor Christ, the emphasis on the physical host as the centerpiece of worship conflates reverence with veneration of a tangible object. The critique from Isaiah and Jeremiah warns against elevating physical objects to a status that could detract from pure, spiritual worship of God. The practice of carrying the eucharist in processions blurs this line, making the same concerns raised against idolatry in the Old Testament.

          While the Roman Catholic perspective views the eucharist as a sacred mystery and an expression of Christ's real presence, its reliance on physical elements and processional practices parallels the idolatry condemned by the prophets. The tension between physical expressions of faith and the potential for them to become idolatrous invites us to reflect on the true nature of worship and the importance of focusing on the spiritual essence of faith, rather than physical manifestations.