Holy Communion, Part 1

(Plain Text Version)

In the worthy reception of Holy Communion, we are joined to the living Christ.  We receive the help we need to live a holy life and to prepare for everlasting life in heaven.

Gospel of John, Chapter 6: Two Miracles and a Test of Faith

In chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, Jesus demonstrates His Divine power.  He then promises that He will use this power to unite Himself to those who believe in Him.

In John 6: 1-15, Jesus took something already existing and increased its quantity.  Five barley loaves and two fishes were multiplied to feed a crowd of over five thousand people. 

In John 6: 16-21, Jesus took something already existing and changed the way it behaved.  At the command of Jesus, the water supported His weight so that He could walk on it.  The next day, the people were surprised that Jesus had crossed the lake when no boat was available.

Jesus performed these two great miracles so that the people could believe what He was about to tell them.  In the remainder of John 6, Jesus told the crowd that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood if they wish to have everlasting life.  It is no surprise that people would be horrified by this command.  As people resist this idea, Jesus repeats His words more and more emphatically.  Many people in the crowd, and many who had followed Him, stopped following Jesus. 

The Last Supper: The Gift of the Holy Eucharist

At the Last Supper, Jesus took something already existing and changed it into something else.  Using a few simple words, He took bread and wine and changed them into His Body and Blood.  This was done with no visible change to the bread and wine.  What looked and tasted like bread was now the true Body of Christ.  What looked and tasted like wine was now the true Blood of Christ.  Under the forms of bread and wine, Jesus gave Himself to the Apostles. 

Matthew 26: 26-29, Mark 14: 22-25, Luke: 22: 19-20, and 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 describe the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.  Jesus calls the Holy Eucharist a new covenant.  This new covenant brings tremendous graces to all who receive His Body and Blood.  These blessings are available to all peoples until the end of time.

Vocabulary

Substance: What something is, regardless of what it appears to be.

Appearance: What our senses detect, such as color, taste, and texture.

Transubstantiation: Change of the substance of bread and wine into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Holy Communion: Eating the Body of Christ or drinking the Blood of Christ in a worthy manner.

Covenant: Promise of rewards for those who obey God’s commandments.   

Many thanks to:

Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Pocket Catholic Catechism, 1989, Doubleday

Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Modern Catholic Dictionary, 2001, Eternal Life

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