Final answer:
Schillebeeckx calls Jesus the primordial sacrament because Jesus embodies the essence and purpose of all sacraments in Christianity. Jesus' words and actions during the Last Supper establish a sacramental connection between his physical presence and the spiritual nourishment received through the Eucharist. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection can also be seen as the ultimate sacramental act through which God's grace and salvation are communicated to humanity.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of Christian theology, Schillebeeckx refers to Jesus as the primordial sacrament. This term means that Jesus himself embodies the essence and purpose of all sacraments in Christianity. Just as the sacraments are visible signs of God's grace and presence in the world, Jesus is the ultimate and most perfect sign of God's love and salvation for humanity.
Jesus' words and actions during the Last Supper, where he instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist, exemplify his role as the primordial sacrament. By blessing the bread and wine and proclaiming them as his body and blood, Jesus establishes a sacramental connection between his physical presence and the spiritual nourishment and forgiveness of sins that believers receive through the Eucharist.
Furthermore, Jesus' life, death, and resurrection can be seen as the ultimate sacramental act through which God's grace and salvation are communicated to humanity. Just as the sacraments are channels of divine grace, Jesus, as the primordial sacrament, is the channel through which God's saving grace is made accessible to all.