And "This is my blood?"
Catholics interpret these passages literally, yet most self-proclaimed Biblical literalists don't. I don't understand this contradiction. Please explain.
2007-10-30 02:12:51 · 9 answers · asked by Skepticat 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What makes this so interesting is that the teaching in John 6 is some of the plainest teaching of Jesus in all the Bible. He went to great effort to make it clear that He was speaking literally, even to the point of letting His disciples leave because they believed after His soliloquy that He was speaking literally and knew that eating blood was forbidden under Levitical laws. He made no effort to stop them and even invited the 12 to leave also if they did not have faith in His teaching. All agreed that this was hard teaching.
After His teaching recorded in John 6 the disciples knew that something miraculous was about to happen in regards to Jesus' Body and Blood and trusted Him as their faith directed because He had already told them that the carnal sense or reason would not be useful in understanding. Surely, understanding is both a commandment and a measure of faith, for miracles defy human understanding. We understand because of our trust, and devotion that was first prompted by the Holy Spirit when we surrender to the law written on our hearts at initial salvation. Jesus made this very plain in His teaching and taught without ambiguity.
In this thread we have already seen this doubt produced by the carnal thought and human reason which requires our suspension of faith which allows us to accept the miracles of God. One said that they do not believe because Jesus did not break off parts of His Body. This is a glaring example of one being in the carnal sense and not believing on faith.
Jesus said, "Do this in "anamnesis" of me" which is to say my gift is a miraculous one, transcending time and place so that all of the Church who believes may participate and be present at the one sacrifice for all at the foot of the cross. This we do in thankful and humble obedience never denying the great gift to His Church and receiving His grace with a humble and obedient heart. We believe that His words are truth which say that we are to eat His Body and drink His Blood for the free gift of life eternal. St. Paul reinforces this ascent to faith when He teaches that we must discern His Body and His Blood when we receive the Eucharist lest we bring condemnation on ourselves.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
2007-10-30 03:37:48 · answer #1 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Catholics are taught the elements literally do at some point become the actual body and blood. This is called transubstantiation in theological terms.
The general Protestant view is not that way at all.
It is memorial only, and the elements of the Lord's supper do not at any time literally become the body or blood.
It is a matter of whether or not you interpret the verses with the understanding of being literal, or figurative.
I read literally, but understand a metaphor or other figure of speech when I see it.
2007-10-30 09:24:07 · answer #2 · answered by Jed 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Jed is right.
We literally "do this in remembrance of Him". We not only are reminded of His bodily sacrifice for our atonement, and of His blood shed so that we can enter into a new covenant with God through Him, but also of His wonderful mercy and grace in our redemption.
We do not believe that the Eucharistic elements become the body and blood of Christ. We believe that Jesus used the bread and the wine as symbols, which we do as well.
2007-10-30 09:27:54 · answer #3 · answered by Bill Mac 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Both phrases were spoken during the sacrament by Jesus and is widely practiced by many Christian Churches.The Mormon's practice this every Sunday. Most drink some type of juice (red) which is symbolic of His blood. Some type of unleavened bread (no yeast) is symbolic of His body. The Bible says do this as often as ye remember me. As far as the time limit the Bible does not say.
2007-10-30 09:51:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Jesus sacrificed His body to death and shed His blood for you and me. The bread represents Jesus' body battered and broken because of our sins. The cup ( grape juice ) represents the blood He shed. We are to eat the bread
( body ) and drink the juice ( blood ) and never forget the great sacrifice He gave. Only a Christian is allowed communion, for when we do this we are giving thanksgiving for Christ's work for us, proclaiming that Jesus is our Lord and in Him alone do we receive forgiveness and our hope, Eternal life.
2007-10-30 09:37:58 · answer #5 · answered by HeVn Bd 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Jesus obviously did not start breaking off fingers and toes at the Last Supper. Catholics believe Jesus physically indwells the bread and wine. Other Christian denominations see the bread and wine as SYMBOLS of Jesus' body and blood, and believe that Jesus was speaking symbolically at the Last Supper.
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2007-10-30 09:21:25 · answer #6 · answered by Char 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
you can't intrepret every word literally. There are overstatments, scarcasim, prose...
2007-10-30 09:17:52 · answer #7 · answered by free_indeed2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
and i don't understand you....or what you are implying
2007-10-30 09:23:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
the cow says, "Mooo."
2007-10-30 09:16:54 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. Mastershake 5 · 0⤊ 6⤋