We were recently visiting with some extended family in New England. During the time we were there, we visited the Baptist church where my mom attended growing up. It had been a couple of months since I had sat through a sermon in an Evangelical church. For some reason, this sermon seemed particularly directed against the Catholic Church. It was full of not-so-subtle references to how Catholics are so supposedly deceived. At the end of the sermon, they distributed their monthly communion. The pastor was very clear in saying that the "crackers and juice" were "only symbols". He took great effort in explaining to the congregation that communion was "not a sacrament in any way", but "simply an ordinance." He mentioned that the Catholic Church actually believed that the "crackers and juice" became the real body and blood of Jesus Christ. The deacons and other people in the church grimaced and shook their heads in disgust. "That's just ridiculous," the pastor declared.
His last statement really got me thinking. At first, when I heard it, I felt insulted and offended. He was belittling my beliefs right in front of me. However, I came to realize the truth in his statement. Let me explain...
Pastor R. certainly wasn't the first person to call the Eucharist "ridiculous". In fact, we see people doing it right in the Gospel of St. John. When you read this passage from John 6:55-66, try reading it as if you've never read it before. Come at it with a fresh mind and see what you can get out of it.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
These things he said in the synogogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Jesus lost "many disciples" over the issue of the Eucharist. They thought that the teaching was so ridiculous that they simply left him. They didn't say, "Oh, we're supposed to eat a mere symbol of his body; I can handle that!" They deserted Him.
Many other people have deserted Jesus because they found His teachings to be "ridiculous". We as Christians really do believe in some pretty crazy things. We believe that God is One, and yet He is three distinct Persons. We believe that He made the world out of nothing. We believe that He loved us so much that He sent His only Son into the world as a human baby. We believe that He is 100% God and 100% man. We believe that He died a cruel criminal's death for our salvation from sin. We believe that He rose again from the grave, and that He ascended back into heaven. These are all mysteries to us. We can't claim to fully understand them. We don't know why or how God does these things. Many people would call them ridiculous.
I don't remember which saint said this, but he made this point, which I thought was very good:
Jesus says, "This is my body."
You say, "This is not His body."
Who should I believe?
If Jesus says something, we shouldn't be too quick to condemn it because it's "ridiculous". I would rather err on the side of being too literal than miss out on something so huge.
If I'm going to be so extreme as to believe that God became man, that He was tortured for my sake, and that He rose from the dead, I might as well go all the way and believe that He enters the form of bread in communion so that I can bodily receive Him. I'm not going to accept one as being reasonable and the other as crazy. They're both crazy. But, I can't think of anything more beautiful.
If I believe in it, what do I lose if it's wrong?
What do I gain if it's right?
Pax Christi,
~the Catholic apologist
Comments
Posted by Anonymous It feels like bread.
It smells like bread.
It tastes like bread.
It even sounds like bread.
Are you asking me to accept this by faith alone?
You sound so Protestant.
:o)
Posted by thecatholicapologist In fact, my faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is the same faith that I put in the existence of God Himself:
I can't see God.
I can't feel God.
I can't smell God.
I can't taste God.
I can't hear God.
But I experience his changes in my heart, and I see the evidence of His power all around me.
Maybe I'll do an entry on Eucharistic miracles sometime. :-)
Pax Christi,
~the Catholic apologist
Posted by Anonymous I guess it's ok to doubt transubstantiation, because one must believe it, or in some ways simply "faith it". It seems all knowledge requires some element of faith, because all fact can be doubted and tested. Our imperfect faith cannot exist without doubt as our imperfect abilities to choose good cannot exist without evil. Doubt is ok, but willful ignorance and a refusal to "taste and see" is most grevious.
We must argue what is reasonable, but we must be willing to submit to the truth nomatter how unbelievable. That is why the most "ridiculous" claim may be the most important. Why question the symbolism of the LORD's Supper? Little doubt requires little faith. But to test the FANTASTIC claim that Christ becomes really and truly present in the consecrated host is worthy of all our faculties.
If only hearts and minds would desire the truth so much to test this wondrous doctrine they could pass from dark to light, to a faith so real that hardly a shadow of doubt remains. As you said, it is the same with the most ridiculous claim of all, God becoming human flesh and blood.
Keep up the good work and thank you for your beautiful post. I love you my dear sister in Christ.
Posted by arwengirl God Bless!
_Arwengirl
Posted by Anonymous Posted by thecatholicapologist I have written another post about the Eucharist that goes into a lot more Biblical detail than this one does. You can check it out here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thecatholicapologist/248887/
If we simply take the Bible at its word, what conclusions do we reach?
Thanks for commenting,
Pax Christi,
~the Catholic apologist
Edited by thecatholicapologist on Oct. 29, 2007 at 7:32 PM
Posted by Arby 
Posted by ElvishMaiden14 I'm presbyterian. But, I have always wanted to be Catholic. I probably don't agree with a lot of your theology, but the way Catholic/Anglicans worship has always intrigued me.
One thing I have wondered is what the significance of the rosary/prayer beads are?
From reading your other blog, I see we both celebrate Advent! Do you have a advent wreath too?
Stop by my blog at www.letterstoamessedupntn.blogspot.com
Kate
Posted by Anonymous I'm glad I did. I'm impressed.
You have a lot to offer.
Janet
www.CanIChangeALife.blogspot.com
Posted by Smiley007 But today as an adult I belive it is the Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Jesus that we receive in holy communion.
If we dont understand holy communion, maybe we should ask the HOly Spirit to open our eyes and help us understand. or we could use the biblical prayer ' Lord i Belive help my unbelief
