A week earlier we had taken a religion test and one of the short answer questions was: "What is the Eucharist?" So, being the typical seventh graders we were, this seemed like an easy question. Most of our answers were along the lines of, "The Eucharist is a symbol of Jesus," or "The Eucharist symbolizes the last supper and Jesus giving of himself."
So, when our teacher came in jumping up and down yelling, "Jesus IS the Eucharist!!! It's not a symbol!!! Jesus IS the Eucharist!!!" We seriously thought she had gone off the deep end.
See, the thing with catholics is that we see the Eucharist as a little wafer and think "symbol." that's because, well, let's be honest, it looks like cardboard, feels like cardboard, and tastes like cardboard, we think "how can this be Jesus?" It took me a long time before I believed that the Eucharist was really Jesus. In seventh grade, I couldn't figure out why my teacher was getting so worked up about a silly test. Yes, everyone in the class got that question wrong, but I couldn't see how she could really believe that little wafer was Jesus.
"When Our Lord said, "This is My body," the entire substance of the bread was changed into His body; and when He said, "This is My blood," the entire substance of the wine was changed into His blood." (Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism)
This is kinda a crazy concept for us to grasp. And why would Jesus want to be a piece of bread? Well, think about it, God became food that we eat, and people eat a lot. And when we eat, food litterally becomes a part of us. It goes into blood stream, our skin, our cells, into our very being. God chose the best way to be consumed into our very person because He wanted to be as close to us as possible.
"In the Holy Eucharist we become one with God like food with the body"
Saint Francis De Sales
When we recieve the Eucharist we recieve Jesus, as catholics we believe that Jesus is fully in the Eucharist. So, like my teacher said, "Jesus IS the Eucharist!" At Christ's words, "This is My body," all limitations are stripped away and we stand in the very presence of God It is at the Eucharist that we make Saint Paul's wish our own: "All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in hope that I myself will be raised from death to life" (Philippians 3:10-11, Good News Bible)
"Not to go to Communion is like someone dying of thirst beside a spring."
St. John Vianney
I do believe that Jesus is the bread and wine but I see it as a little different. The other part of scripture we must hear is that He said "Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me". To me, that says He is not the actual bread and wine itself alone, but when you take it and remember him then HE will be there in it at that point. Paul even adds that we must take it with the right mind. I like this post.
ReplyDeleteGozreht, I know you are not catholic, but as catholics we believe that the bread and the wine become Jesus when the priest blesses them.
Delete"Christ could not have used clearer, more explicit words than "This is My body." He did not say, "This is a sign of My body," or "This represents My body," but, "This is My body." Catholics take Christ at His word because He is the omnipotent God. On His word they know that the Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ." (http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/eucha1a.htm)
And when Christ said "Do this is remembrance on Me," he was litterally saying do this in remembrance of Him. Which, we as catholics do every time we go to mass. And yes, we celebrate the Eucharist to remember Christ's passion and resurection. We truly believe that Christ is present in the bread and wine. And when Paul says that we need to take it in the right mind he is saying that we shouldn't have grave sin on our shoulders. Also, read John 6:22 to the end of the chapter, in this Jesus speaks of the Eucharist. :) If you haven't noticed, the Eucharist is one of my favorite sacraments and I love going into detail about it. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to share my faith and grow deeper in my knowledge of God :)
Oh, but I am Catholic :) Seriously. I was Christened. My parents were married in a Catholic Church. I believe in many things the RC says. I do believe that the bread and wine are Jesus. But I feel it is more of the faith the taker has than the blessing the priest gives. If I believe that Jesus is there then isn't that more important than an earthly being giving a blessing for it? For it is by faith we walk.
ReplyDeleteBut, when you read John 6, find the original words and it takes on an even more deeper meaning. When the jewish people heard Him say this they were appalled because they thought He meant literally eating His flesh. But the Greek word used here is "sarx" which means "human nature". When we eat we absorb. When we take communion we absorb Jesus but in all ways. So it is actually more than just a literal "This is my body". It means this is Jesus, His life, His ways, His attitude, His essence. Eating His body is cannabalism. Taking on His essence His what He is referring to.
But don't worry, we are still saying the same thing. No matter what we are commanded to take this action. We are suppsoed to do it with the right mind. One way or another Jesus is there!!!!!
I really like what you are doing. Keep it up and remember discussion is where people learn. Thank you for giving me more to think about.
First off I want to thank you. I love talking about my faith and you have really helped me to learn more and contemplate why we believe what we do.
ReplyDeleteI want to take it back to the Old Testament to explain better. Let’s start with Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22) When God tested Abraham and tells him to sacrifice Isaac, Isaac asks where the lamb is and Abraham responds that God will provide the lamb. (This is important!) And when the angel of God stops Abraham, God provides a Ram. So they are still waiting for the lamb.
Now let’s go to Exodus to the Passover (starting at Exodus 11)
The tenth plague was that the angel of death would pass over Egypt killing every firstborn. To be spared from the plague the Israelites were told to take an unblemished lamb, slaughter it at twilight, take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frame where they were to eat the lamb, that same night they were to eat the meat with no leftovers. In Exodus 12:14 it says “and this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” The Church teaches that when Jesus established the New Covenant with His death and resurrection, He didn’t abandon the promises made to the Hebrew people but fulfilled them.
Now let’s look at how Jesus fulfilled the Passover. Jesus is the Lamb of God.
On Palm Sunday as Jesus is arriving in Jerusalem, so are the Passover lambs. This is showing that Jesus is taking the place of the Passover lamb. Also every year on Passover the unblemished lambs were inspected before being given to the families. Now, you are probably thinking what does this have to do with Jesus? A lot actually. Jesus is the lamb, and just as the unblemished lambs where inspected, so was Jesus, by Pilate, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Also, during the Passover meal Jesus celebrated the Last Supper. During the Passover meal, Jesus takes the unleavened bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to the disciples saying, “This is My body,” showing that He is replacing the Passover lamb. And with the wine, blesses it, and gives it to the disciples saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which is poured out for many.” Now, the Passover lamb was to prevent pain and suffering of loss of a loved one for the Israelites. Jesus as the Lamb is to save the world from pain and suffering, to open the gates of heaven.
To Summarize: The Israelites had to eat the Passover lamb. It was not enough to that they simply sacrificed the lamb-- they were instructed to also eat it. When we have the Eucharist we also eat the lamb, Jesus the Lamb of God. So that is why it is not cannibalism-- we are not eating human flesh, Jesus, but the Lamb of God, Jesus. I hope that makes it a little clearer. :) And thank you again, I really love doing this kind of thing :)