The Eucharist -- John 6

CatholicThinker.net ^ | 2009 | CatholicThinker

[sayuncledave]

Thank you, Salvation. This is one of those things where the separated brethren completely, utterly miss; the single biggest, and most important. Pray for their conversion; I do.

[al_c]

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

My Knights of Columbus license plate # - JN651

[al_c]

Catholics, on average, can’t be depended upon to read the Bible!

Just as typical a statement as when the lefties say "stop listening to Faux News."

If you seriously believe that Catholics do not study scripture, you are sadly mistaken. I recommend that you read Scott Hahn's book The Lamb's Supper. In it, he describes how he attempted to shoot down the Catholic Mass based on scripture. Instead, he found that the entire Mass is based on scripture. Seriously ... read this book. But do so with an open mind instead of preconceived notions about the Catholic Church.

[servantboy777]

Amazing piece, thanx for blessing my day!

[blackpacific]

I suppose if one went to mass every day, in about 3 years one would have made a complete circuit of the sacred scriptures.

Separated brethren universally make the mistake of letting their reason interpret sacred scripture ahead of their faith, whereas the Catholic is always seeing the meaning of sacred scripture through the eyes of Faith. It is the cause of 10s of thousands of sects.

[blackpacific]

I suppose if one went to mass every day, in about 3 years one would have made a complete circuit of the sacred scriptures.

Separated brethren universally make the mistake of letting their reason interpret sacred scripture ahead of their faith, whereas the Catholic is always seeing the meaning of sacred scripture through the eyes of Faith.

[Salvation]

You can’t put all Catholics into one category sayihng we do not read the Bible, for we do.

What are you talking about?

[Salvation]

**Amen, so have I! I think our FRoman catholic friends maybe were a little bored lately since the Religion Forum hasn’t been as acrimonious as they seem to like, so they repost yet another provocative thread mocking “those” Protestants and boasting that they alone have the only real gateway to salvation. Yet, we understand from the Holy Scriptures that we ARE save by grace through faith and NOT by the deeds or works that we do**

If you are going to talk about me, don’t the rules of FR require that you also address me — the poster?

[Salvation]

BTW, I don’t believe this was a repost — but an original — the first time on FR.

[Salvation]

Here is another very old passage describing an early Mass - this is attributed to the 2nd century - AD 155. A man known as Justin who was the first Christian to make public many details of the faith wrote it. This except is from a letter he wrote to the Roman emperor. Again, its description of the Mass is uncannily similar to how we celebrate today:
"On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves... and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation. When the prayers are concluded we exchanges the kiss. Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name o the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts. When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying "Amen". When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the eucharisted bread, wine, and water and take them to those who are absent."

John is writing theology just as the apostles wrote theology in the Didache.

[Salvation]

Great license plate. Do you get questions about it?

[Salvation]

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

Yes, it was a great article.

Why didn’t Christ chase after the disciples that left and say, “Hey, I was only speaking in symbols and metaphors, come back!”

No, he let them walk away. And we do need to pray for our Protestant bretheren who walk away from The Eucharist also.

[Salvation]

BTTT! I had forgotten about Hahn’s endeavor. Great book, BTW.

[Salvation]

Thanks for reading it. It is definitely a keeper.

[Natural Law]

"It is metaphor. Note John 6:63, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life." God Himself says the flesh counts for nothing right there in John 6 to explain, so why does the Church insist on claiming that it does?"

In is not a metaphor because Jesus makes it a point to differentiate between "the" flesh and "this" flesh throughout His ministry.

Peace be with you

[PeevedPatriot]

Thanks for mentioning Scott Hahn's The Lamb's Supper. As a convert, I think it should be required reading in RCIA.

Fr Wade Menezes gave a beautiful homily on the Real Presence on EWTN's Daily Mass this morning. I don't see it available online yet, but it's definitely worth a listen when it is. He takes on objections to the Real Presence, like the cannabilism accusation, but mostly his homily just left me feeling blessed and grateful for the Lord's gift of Himself.

[al_c]

Great license plate. Do you get questions about it?

Most comments are about the "One Nation Under God" part at the bottom. Some of my fellow Catholics have noticed the subtle scripture reference, but since it closely matches standard letter/number layout, it's not all that obvious. I suppose I could add on a : after the 6 to make it stand out more, but I'm not sure if that would be breaking any motor vehicle laws or not.

[al_c]

Thanks for mentioning Scott Hahn's The Lamb's Supper. As a convert, I think it should be required reading in RCIA.

Agreed. As a convert myself, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Read it in one weekend during a silent retreat a few years ago.

[spunkets]

Re: "It is metaphor. Note John 6:63, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life." God Himself says the flesh counts for nothing right there in John 6 to explain, so why does the Church insist on claiming that it does?"

" In is not a metaphor because Jesus makes it a point to differentiate between "the" flesh and "this" flesh throughout His ministry.

John 6:63 is the explanation of the difference. Flesh is flesh and counts for nothing, regardless of which flesh "this" refers to. The things of the Spirit are all that matters, they are the words He has spoken and that which gives life.

[Salvation]

They (the Jews) understood him to speak literally, not metaphorically or symbolically. He assures them he expect to be understood literally. Why is he so emphatic? He wants to save us and links the eating of his Body and Blood to eternal life: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. In order to be raised up and to make the journey to eternal life we must be sustained and strengthened for the journey by eating and drinking his blood.

If the Jews realized that Jesus was speaking literally why can't the "Christians of 35,000 denominations (and counting) understand that Jesus was speaking literally.

Have brains deteriorated that much?

And I repeat once more that Catholics believe Christ was talking literally. There are big difference between "the" flesh and "this" flesh or "my" flesh.