February 15, 2012 – Catechism 1333-1340

I think it is so vital to understand that the teaching of the Eucharist and Christ teaching that His body and blood must be consumed is a teaching that He never backed away from and allowed people to leave if they did not accept it.  We have not gone over John 6, but it is a chapter that anyone who has question about the Eucharist should read and reflect on. 

We have talked about Christ words at the Last Supper and how those “words” are powerful.  (maybe we didn’t, after 2 years I sometimes forget).  God’s words have infinite power.  7 loaves to feed 5000 by His words, water to wine by His words.  We believe He has the power to turn bread and wine into His Body and Blood (who would argue that God does not have that power).  We believe He instructed us to eat His flesh and drink His blood (why would He instruct us to do something that we could not do).  There must be a way, for us, to follow His instruction and it could only be by the power of God that it would be possible.  Show me any other Christian church that follow the instructions laid out by God or believes that by God’s power they bring about Christ Body and Blood in order to follow His instruction.  I am not sure the burden should be on Catholics to explain why we believe in the Eucharist.  It is a mystery that is beyond our complete understanding and is always going to leave those that are looking for a reason not to believe dissatisfied.  I think the burden lies on non-Catholic christians to explain how they obey Christ command in John 6 without a method of bringing about Christ Body and Blood to be consumed.