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Dear Parish Faithful,
If the priesthood established by the law has come to an end, and the priest who is “in the order of Melchizedek” has offered his sacrifice, and has made all other sacrifices unnecessary, why do the priests of the new covenant perform the mystical liturgy? How it is clear to those instructed in divinity that we do not offer another sacrifice, but perform a memorial of that unique and saving offering. For this was the Lord’s own command: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11.24). So that by contemplation we may recall what is symbolized, the sufferings endured on our behalf, and may kindle our love towards our benefactor, and look forward to the enjoyment of the blessings to come.
—Theodoret of Cyrus: The Eucharist
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An important perspective to maintain about the meaning of the "sacrifice" that we offer in the Liturgy. Especially after just hearing the powerful passage from The Epistle to the Hebrews, that "Christ ... entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" (9:11-12).
The one sacrifice of the Great high priest, Jesus Christ, is not endlessly repeated, but rather actualized (re-presented) in every celebration of the Eucharist. That is why the ordained celebrant - bishop or priest - is considered to be the sacramental image of Christ, who "offers and who is offered" and who distributes Communion to the faithful. That is the mystery that we enter into at every Liturgy.
