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Lv 6

Why do so many reject the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist?

53 Accordingly Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, Unless YOU eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, YOU have no life in yourselves. 54 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me forth and I live because of the Father, he also that feeds on me, even that one will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. It is not as when YOUR forefathers ate and yet died. He that feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 These things he said as he was teaching in public assembly at Ca·per´na·um.

60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said: “This speech is shocking; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were murmuring about this, said to them: “Does this stumble YOU? 62 What, therefore, if YOU should behold the Son of man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that is life-giving; the flesh is of no use at all. The sayings that I have spoken to YOU are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of YOU that do not believe.” For from [the] beginning Jesus knew who were the ones not believing and who was the one that would betray him. 65 So he went on to say: “This is why I have said to YOU, No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Update:

Those of you who are saying it is symbolic are wrong. Plain and simple. There is nothing about these passages that are symbolic. In the grammatical sense these are not symbolic nor did anyone believe them to be symbolic before Calvin. Jesus saying "do this in remembrance of me" does not change the fact that Jesus telling us that this is His body and blood. You cn't pit passages against each other.

Update 2:

I am Lutheran BTW.

9 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 7
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    The thing is to deny that the Holy Eucharist is the true Body & Blood of Christ is like denying the incarnation of Christ Himself. What your quoting from Scripture is actually the preinstitution of the Holy Eucharist in which Christ commanded His Apostles to do in memory of Him at the Last Supper. Christ was being literal about the bread made with human hands being His Body and the cup being His Blood to believe it's only symbolic would be the same as calling Christ a liar. Even St. Paul at the church of Corinth in which the people were doing ungodly things he told them by partaking in the Body & Blood of Christ they pass judgement upon themselves if it was only symbolic than St. Paul wouldn't have even bothered to correct those at the church of Corinth for doing such ungodly things in concern about them recieveing the Holy Eucharist.

    Protestants are what I considered as being lost Christians they want to believe in what Christ teaches but they have a difficult time doing so because of believeing like the Jews that left Jesus thinking He was a cannibal. They believe that Sacraments are only things which were commanded by Christ, but Catholics knowing better understand that the Sacraments are rites instituted by Christ Himself.

  • 8 years ago

    Because the Messiah Himself says, in verse 63, that it is the SPIRIT that gives life, the flesh profits nothing, and the words that He had spoken are SPIRIT and they are LIFE.

    He was speaking spiritually, but when His disciples heard His words, they thought He was speaking literally, so naturally it was "shocking" for them to listen to. Consuming blood is against the Torah.

    It is also against the Jerusalem Council's decision in Acts 15:20.

    It is the Spirit that gives life. He said He lives because of the Father. The Father is Spirit.

    The Messiah's presence is not in the bread. It is not in the wine. His presence is in US by the life-giving Spirit.

  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    many don't know that the parallel to the eucharist is the feeding of the manna in the desert, the feeding being necessary for us to spiritually on our journey through life .

  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    So, what's your point? You're a real Christian and those who don't agree with you are not real Christians?

    The plain answer: People disagree about Christianity because they were raised differently and had different interpretations of the Gospels hammered into their heads.

    That's it.

    It's not because you're right and they're wrong. It's not because you're good and they're bad. It's not because you have all the answers and they don't. It's not because God talks to you and not to them.

  • ?
    Lv 5
    8 years ago

    I would like to know what version you use, it seems to me the version is a bit twisted. Christ made it very clear that that those who did the will of God would be excepted by God. So please do the will of God, not just what someone has told you is right.

    But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:32-34)

    If you want the food of God do the will of Him that sent Jesus.

    Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29)

    21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Luke 6:21-23).

    The House on the Rock

    (Luke 6:46-49)

    24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

    I pray that God will reveal light to your life.

  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    If it really is divine flesh then show me one that isn't moldy and rotten after a few years.

  • 8 years ago

    It's called 'symbolism.' Why would Jesus need you actually to eat him?

  • ?
    Lv 4
    8 years ago

    So your into cannibalism I only read the first part but thats some freaky stuff.

  • 8 years ago

    because its cult fiction

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