The document discusses the Catholic Church's teachings on the Eucharist based on scriptural sources. It examines passages from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that describe the Last Supper and establishment of the Eucharist. It also looks at other biblical references like the feeding of the 5000 and Jesus' words in John 6 which are presented as evidence that the Eucharist involves a real spiritual presence of Jesus' body and blood, not just a symbol.

1. The Reality of the Eucharist: Are You Being Fed? May 8, 2010 Michael Luvara

2. Talk Goals Discuss the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist Look at problems with interpretation of Scripture Build a biblical foundation for the Eucharist Look at parallels to Mass Eucharistic Miracles Blessed Sacrament Come out with a better understanding of the Eucharist from a scriptural standpoint, enabling us to know, defend, and live it! OLOP|YA

3. Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity… OLOP|YA “ There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us. ” -St Jean Vianney

4. Source and Summit of the Faith Catechism (1324) The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch. OLOP|YA

5. Accepting the Eucharist Catechism (1381) “ That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that ' cannot be apprehended by the senses ,' says St. Thomas, ' but only by faith , which relies on divine authority.’” “ For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22:19 ('This is my body which is given for you.'), St. Cyril says: ' Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith , for since he is the truth, he cannot lie .’” Let’s have faith and look at it deeper! OLOP|YA

6. Is the Eucharist Everywhere? OLOP|YA Example: 19 Churches in a town with a population of approximately 4700. All derived their belief from their denomination’s interpretation of scripture Some believe in Transubstantiation Consubstantiation Symbolism Indifferent Only one has the Eucharist

7. Do we understand our Faith? Would it be incorrect to say that many go to Mass once a week (for an hour) and just go through the motions without understanding what is going on? “ If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy” - St Jean Vianney Admittedly, it is difficult to understand scripture This is why we have the church! One really needs to understand the “whole story” OLOP|YA Jeff Cavins – “The Greatest Story” CD Matthew West – “The Motions”

8. The Paschal Banquet Catechism (1328) The inexhaustible richness of this sacrament is expressed in the different names we give it. Each name evokes certain aspects of it. It is called: Eucharist , because it is an action of thanksgiving to God . The Greek words eucharistein and eulogein recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim - especially during a meal - God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification. OLOP|YA

9. Understanding Scripture If you just picked up the bible and read it, there are two fundamental ways to look at scripture: Literal Understanding how the author intended the scripture to be read and understood at the time it was written Literalist Understanding as if one picked up the text and read it in today’s terms, having no understanding of historical context (fundamentalists, evangelical Christians,etc) Concept from John Martignoni www.biblechristiansociety.com “ To be steeped in history is to cease to be Protestant” -John Henry Cardinal Newman OLOP|YA

10. Understanding the Meaning Example: “ It is raining cats and dogs” Are cats and dogs really falling from the sky? Or… Is it raining really heavy? We typically live in the time of “today” and have little sense of historical context At first glance, the Eucharist sounds much like the example of “raining cats and dogs” We’ll discuss this as the talk progresses OLOP|YA

11. Where in Scripture is the Eucharist? Located in all four Gospels Matthew, Mark & Luke describe institution of the “Last Supper” These are commonly referred to as “Synoptic Gospels”, as ‘Q’ John 6 explains the Eucharist and Real Presence in detail Many other parallels exist to the Old Testament (Paschal lamb) OLOP|YA

12. John 6 – Let’s take a closer look There’s a story leading up to the Last Supper John 6:1-15 – Multiplication (feeding of 5000) Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:10-17 John 6:16-21 – Walking on Water Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52 John 6:22-59 – Bread of Life Discourse Matthew 26:25-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-23 OLOP|YA

13. Multiplication - Feeding of 5000 John 6:1-15 Present in all four Gospels Early Church Fathers describe the feeding of the 5000 as a model for the Mass Let’s listen… OLOP|YA Jeff Cavins – “I’m Not Being Fed!” CD

14. Walking on Water John 6:16-21 When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading. Have Faith! OLOP|YA

15. Bread of Life Discourse Note that the three other Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) talk about the institution of the Last Supper, whereas John 6 fills in the blanks on the Eucharist, referred to as the “Bread of Life Discourse” John 6:22-59 Let’s read… John 6:27 “ Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” OLOP|YA

16. Eucharistic Joy “ When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary – a joy, a fragrance, a well being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt” - St Jean Vianney OLOP|YA

17. Jesus Repeats Again & Again Twelve times he said he was the bread that came down from heaven Four times Jesus said they would have “to eat my flesh and drink my blood.” John 6:51 “ I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Is this not enough to believe? OLOP|YA

18. Truly, truly, I say… It’s very important when Jesus repeats himself John 6:53–56 “ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” Eats: the verb used in these verses is not the classical Greek verb used of human eating, but that of animal eating: "munch," "gnaw." This may be part of John's emphasis on the reality of the flesh and blood of Jesus (John 6:55) , but the same verb eventually became the ordinary verb in Greek meaning "eat.” (NAB) OLOP|YA

19. Spirit Who Gives Life John 6:63 “ It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ” Galatians 3:3 “ Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit , are you now ending with the flesh ?” Matthew 26:41 “ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing , but the flesh is weak .” Flesh is attributed to human desire, weakness OLOP|YA

20. Was Jesus speaking Metaphorically? Many Christians say Jesus did not mean what he said. It was simply a metaphor, a parable, etc. John 10:9, "I am the door” No one asked him if he was made of wood John 15:1, "I am the true vine” No one asked him if he was a plant Parables are always explicitly stated Jesus always explained teachings so there were no misunderstandings: “Truly, Truly”, “Amen, Amen” OLOP|YA

21. Not a Metaphor Matthew 16:12 ““ How do you not comprehend that I was not speaking to you about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Jesus corrects, when necessary John 6:35, " I am the bread of life" John 6:51, "My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink ” OLOP|YA

22. Will you also go away? Catechism (1336) The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ (Jn6:60). The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. “Will you also go away?”: the Lord’s question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only he has “the words of eternal life” and that to receive in faith the gift of his Eucharist is to receive the Lord himself. OLOP|YA

23. Prophecy of Protestantism? John 6:64 “ But there are some of you who do not believe.” John 6:66 “ After this, many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him” OLOP|YA

24. Philosophical Interpretation “ It seems”, said Aristotle, “that there are two basic ways for something to exist. Something can exist in itself, like a dog or a tree or a person, or it can exist in something else, like the color red or the quantity two or an action like throwing. You don’t ever see red, but something red, you count two only in relation to two things; there is no throwing if something or someone isn’t doing it”. St Thomas Aquinas tried to explain it by using the philosophical terms identified by the Greek Philosopher Aristotle. There are two key elements: substance and accident . For Aquinas (and Aristotle), “substance” is the quality that makes the particular thing be that thing . Above from “The Catholic Mass… Revealed!” book OLOP|YA

25. Transubstantation – The Miracle of Miracles Applying those principles to the consecration of the bread and wine, St Thomas explains that the accidents , the external appearances , color smell, taste of bread, etc all remain. But “what it is”, the substance, changes. It is no longer bread, but is the Body and Blood of Christ, now under the appearance or “ sacramental species” of bread and wine. This unique and miraculous act, by which something changes its substance while its accidents remain, is called “transubstantiation.” The Council of Trent (1551) officially incorporated the term in its definitive teaching on the Eucharist, by stating: “By the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called Transubstantiation. Above from “The Catholic Mass… Revealed!” book OLOP|YA

26. Paul’s Confirmation Paul’s teachings were verbally communicated and in person. “ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16) OLOP|YA

27. Paul passes on the Eucharist 1 Corinthians 11: 23-25 “ For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you , that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”” OLOP|YA

28. The Sacred Host “ When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now.” Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta OLOP|YA

29. Can One Unworthily Believe? 1 Corinthians 11: 26-30 “ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself .” The above points right to being in a state of grace while receiving the Eucharist! How could one bring judgment on themselves for “believing” in Jesus unworthily? OLOP|YA

30. Mass Parallels John 6:12 “ When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” At Mass Consecrated hosts are placed in the tabernacle Priest ensures no fragments are unworthily left on the altar or surrounding area, and consumes them with the remaining chalice of precious blood OLOP|YA

31. Mass Parallels Luke 22:17-20 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you (that) from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." OLOP|YA

32. Appearance in Emmaus After his resurrection, Jesus walked with two of his disciples and celebrated the Eucharist with them! Luke 24:30 “ And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” Let’s Listen OLOP|YA “ The Mass Explained, Lamb Of God” CD

33. Spiritual Restoration “ Just as food restores to the body what which is lost through everyday effort, so the Eucharist restores that which is drained away from us spiritually through ordinary, day-to-day sins” -St Thomas Aquinas Summa theologiae OLOP|YA

34. Mass Parallels Malachi 1:11 “ For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering ; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi came approx 450 years before Jesus Eucharistic Prayer at Mass “ From east to west a perfect offering is made.” OLOP|YA

35. We Have A Fullness ‘ This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” At first, one may side with John 6:60 But, we must have faith as St Cyril says “ for nothing will be impossible for God.” (Luke 1:37) Fr. Mallo always describes the Eucharist as “Supernatural” Walking on water in John 6 tells us to have faith We have a fullness that can’t be found at any other church outside of the Catholic faith! Always remember that if your mind wanders in mass OLOP|YA Jeff Cavins – “I’m Not Being Fed!” CD

36. Eucharistic Miracles Numerous occurrences of Eucharistic Miracles are documented within the Church, reaffirming the true presence in the Eucharist Lanciano, Italy, 700 A.D. Brazilian Monk doubted the real presence During the consecration, the host turned into real flesh and the wine into real blood He was confounded at first, but after a few minutes, he turned his face to the congregation, and said "behold the flesh and the blood of our most beloved Christ." OLOP|YA

37. Eucharistic Miracles When weighed individually or collectively, the globules of blood weigh the same! OLOP|YA

38. The Blessed Sacrament OLOP|YA “ Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest, after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us” - St. Alphonsus Liguori Tantum Ergo – “The Mass Explained” CD

39. Prayer after Receiving Communion St. Padre Pio Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You. Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company. Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love. Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strenth, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile! Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You. Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart. Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love. Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more. With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen. OLOP|YA

40. Venerable Pope John Paul the Great OLOP|YA pray for us