"It brings to a subjective focus how Christ, though literally sacrificed once way back at Calvary, has somehow managed to penetrate me."
I thought it was a surpassingly beautiful statement.
I am a part of the RCIA team in my parish (we teach adults preparing for Baptism, as well fallen-aways that are coming back and want to be Confirmed.) I think I'll use your statement as part of my presentation on the Eucharist-- if that's all right with you.
Now if I may, let me comment on something else you said [apparently making reference to Catholic doctrine] which I would like to gently correct [because it's not an accurate restatement of Catholic doctrine]:
"If the pastoral blessing turns the bread and wine into pieces of Jesus’ literal body and blood, having demonstrable and startling supernatural properties..."
First, no Catholic would ever say that a "pastoral blessing" turns bread and wine into anything. I always make this clear with my class: Folks, don't think Father Kevin is doing this. That wouiuld be about half-past impossible. Father Kevin is just saying Christ's words: Christ is doing this."
Second, nmo Catholic would ever say thtat the Eucharist is "pieces of Jesus' literal body and blood." Again, this comes up in class, usually from somebody saying "OK, like, how is this different from cannnibalism?" [At that point a few people say "Eeeewww."]
And my response is: Cannibalism is killing somebody and eating dead body parts. The Eucharist is not like that: it's Somebody laying doen His own life, and giving us to eat His whole living self: alive, not dead; the whole Christ --- Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity ---not just parts.
And this is not that He should become part of us, but that we should become part of Him. It's we who become members of His body, and not the other way around.
You may agree with this in whole or in part, or you may disagree, and that's all right. But5 just for accuracy's sake, this is what the Catholic Church teaches.
Thank you for your reply.
"It brings to a subjective focus how Christ, though literally sacrificed once way back at Calvary, has somehow managed to penetrate me."
If you want to use my remark, please note that this is the witness of the typical experience of a certain evangelical Christian (i.e. me) in a bible church that regards its communion elements as simple symbols of what Jesus Christ sacrificed at Calvary. But we do recite the appropriate bible quotations, usually from NASB or NKJV.