From The Gospel To Life: The Disciples and the Eucharist

Examiner.com ^ | 4/24/10 | Joseph Speranzella SFO

[Catholic Examiner]

There have been many debates regarding the doctrine of transubstantiation and there will continue to be. when men become in involved in defining and clarifying mysteries we can count on confusion and controversy.

Yet the Scripture here is plain. Jesus was saying he was the bread of life and whoever eat and drank of the elements will have eternal life...Read more...

[johngrace]

We can’t put God in a box. The earliest Christians also believed. If you see that the victim of the lamb was eaten in the old covenant why not a benign presence in the way Christ is the victim leaves no real room for doubt in the passage. If Christ is the Great I Am which means he is truly always present outside of the creation{ Time and Space,planets and cosmos} which is another mystery. Its not too far a stretch to see the representation of the same sacrifice thru out the march of time since his presence can be everywhere. Why because he is not locked down to time like us. There’s no way this is made up only a God could introduce the eucharist- Its just that deep. Thats why a lot of people are confused. You know like our independent church brothers. I personally did not understand until later in life. What an Awesome God indeed!

[johngrace]

After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?’ Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, ‘Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?
‘It is the spirit that gives life,
the flesh has nothing to offer.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit
and they are life.

‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the outset those who did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. He went on, ‘This is why I told you that no one could come to me unless the Father allows him.’ After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.

Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.-— Note again what Christ is really saying HE is talking about spiritual thinking which is above worldly or fleshly thinking . He sees always the spiritual and physical together. We Don’t. The Spirit spoke the physical creation in to existence-Let there be Light. The flesh by itself cannot do much without the spiritual. Meaning its a deep thing of God for the breard to be the presence of God. Peter said we trust you even though thats hard to understand for now. ‘It is the spirit that gives life,
the flesh has nothing to offer.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit
and they are life.