One must weight everything on the Word of God regardless of denominations which in the end as well as the beginning, is the only Truth we have
I agree that the Word of God should be our point of reference.
Did the Lord Himself teach us to "manifest Him" this way or just "remember Him" this way. That is the question.
As you know, we should look to the entire Scriptures when determining such particular questions. I believe that John 6 gives a presursor of what Jesus means at the Last Supper when He says "this is My Body". He had earlier told the Disciples that they must eat His flesh (who took His words literally, judging by those who left Him that day). Thus, when they heard the Words of Christ at the Last Supper, they must have put the two incidents together later on, after the Resurrection. This is evident in the writings of the very first Christians, such as Ignatius of Antioch, writing in 105 AD, who was taught by John the Evangelist HIMSELF. Thus, we are getting an interpretation from what the Gospel means from the writer himself. That holds more water, to me, than someone telling me it is only a symbol 2000 years after the fact. It has been the interpretation of the Church for 2000 years, and I don't see a reason for someone as dim as myself to believe that I know better.
Yes, blessed our those who believe and don't see! We see the Eucharist as Christ in FAITH, not in the form of a Body He has taken up after His resurrection. If you read John 6 carefully, you will note that faith is a key theme. Only by faith, only be being drawn to the Father, can we believe that we must eat Christ's flesh. Only by faith do we realize that we see Christ "in the breaking of the Bread", like the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke's Gospel). Thus, we, too, are blessed for our faith.
As to not seeing Him, He also said He would be with us ALWAYS, in Matthew 28. We don't see Him in the form that the Disciples saw Him, walking the face of the earth, or even in His resurrected form. We see Him through the eyes of faith in the form of bread and wine, just as the first disciples recognized Him in the breaking of the Bread. It seems like a strange teaching, but it is verified by the first Christians who are writing in 100 AD and later, Ireneaus, Justin the Martyr, Ignatius of Antioch, and so forth, all the way up to today. Again, I find it difficult to go against 2000 years of interpretation of the Scripture and Liturgical Actions of the Church.
When I was coming back to Catholicism, for me, the Eucharist was the "surest" of our mysteries. This was believed universally, and it is clearly denoted in the Scriptures. It is a "hard" saying, but after reading the Church Fathers, they were adamant about it. Thus, I found the intellectual idea of it as feasible. And as I began to go to Eucharist Adoration and pray before the monstrance that held the Body of Christ in the form of bread, I began to experience His presence more than when I prayed in my room. I just "knew" He was there. Thus, it was not a large "leap of faith" for me. I figured that those closest to Christ, the Apostles, must have known what He was talking about, who then subsequently taught what we believe today.
The Body of Christ "believers" those who are "called out" which means Church are to edify one another and encourage one another. In doing so we are built up and naturally by the Spirit we want more. We have to have the Spirit to even want more of God and His divine Truths. You and I didn't care about this before, but we do now.
I agree. I have come to the firm conclusion that God works in Catholics AND Protestants to spread His Word. It was the Assembly of God couple down the street from us who God worked through to re-vivified my faith in Jesus Christ. After examination, I felt that I must become Catholic (again) - I have a strong sense of history, so I had a lot of respect for the Church's claims of being THE Church of Christ. Certainly, we see signs of Christ's Church outside the visible walls of the Roman Catholic Church. And perhaps people are more drawn to God OUTSIDE of those walls... But for me, I felt drawn to this historical Church, despite my experiences of my youth, despite the scandal of present times, despite all of those wolves in shepherd clothing. I was not going to let some "weeds" get in the way of the fullness of the Truth! However, I respect the person who finds Christ in a Protestant setting. When I see the Spirit working in a person such as yourself, I prefer to speak in the manner we are now - rather than putting on the full-court press of the "correctness" of Catholicism. I will defend it, of course, but I prefer challenge, rather than push. If God is working within you, and you are obviously responding to His loving grace, than I pray you continue in your journey towards Truth, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
The doors are always open, brother! We could use some brothers and sisters knowledgeable in the Word who are serious about Jesus Christ.
Brother in Christ
When God is the One doing it, there will be no other way. God works when Christ is projected, and the evidence of the Fruits of the Spirit then shine through.
Love, Joy ,Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance
Leaving behind the corruption of the flesh:
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful
We deserve a break here because I know we're both driving, we just want to end up in the same place, home. It's all been good however, and all good things come from God
I am more mature in the Lord now after this conversation. Clearly I'm a better Christian for it in approaching those with different views. For I do not believe God intended us to stop growing, or to sow dissension instead of Love. That would be a sure way to stunt your growth, and says or does nothing for the Body of Christ.
That being said I want you know I'm not finished just yet.:) Nor do I believe you are finished either.:) I have some other questions for you at a later time, and my hope is to keep this channel open.
My frequency on this forum is in blocks. I work in the oil industry and have time on shift, if you can believe that, to frequent the forum daily. However, when I go home, my wife and family keep me busy. So if you send me any note and I don't get back to you right away, thats why. I will however be here for the next day or so, then the weather gets bad and I go in, cold front coming down.
My wife and I also do the work of the ministry, reaching out to those who need help and fielding calls from those in distress. This never stops with her and me being on this forum keeps me serving as well, or so I hope.
I do not miss an opportunity to spread the Gospel "for I am not ashamed of the Gospel". No one on this vessel is exempt from hearing about it, and neither are you.:) Praise God!
May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always, and that you know He is there, even in your valley He brings you Peace. Give Him Praise and Thanks
Your Brother in Christ