The Seven Sacraments of the Church

Communion in the Holy Bible

📜 The Sacrament of Communion (Eucharist)
The Eucharist is a sacred sacrament given to us by Christ, where His body and blood are received under the forms of bread and wine. This sacrament is deeply rooted in the faith passed down through the Church, handed over by Christ Himself. The early Church, through the disciples and written records in the Bible, has preserved this teaching for over 2000 years. It remains a vital and powerful part of the Church’s life.

✝️ Christ’s Establishment of the Eucharist
Christ Himself instituted the sacrament, teaching it to His disciples, and it has been passed down to us in both the Scriptures and the writings of the early Church Fathers. Despite challenges and attacks over time, the sacrament has endured.

🔑 Origin of the Word “Eucharist”
The term "Eucharist" comes from the Greek word εὐχαριστία (eucharistia), which means "thanksgiving." In the liturgy, we say, “Let us give thanks to the Lord,” signifying that the Eucharist is our offering of thanks to God. It is a sacrificial act where we offer Christ’s body and blood as an expression of gratitude for His salvation.

🍞 The Eucharist: The Sacrament of Sacraments
St. Augustine described the Eucharist as the "sacrament of sacraments" because it is foundational to Christian life. As Augustine put it, “Christians make the Eucharist, and the Eucharist makes Christians.” The Eucharist is essential for every Christian; we cannot live without it.

Is Communion the Real Body and Blood?

This is a crucial and frequently debated question. Does the Eucharist contain the real body and blood of Christ, or is it just symbolic?

👨‍⚖️ The Answer: Yes, It Is the Real Body and Blood
Christ Himself declared, “For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed” (John 6:55). The Church affirms this through the words of the priest during the liturgy, who repeats, “True Body, True Blood,” and the faithful respond with an enthusiastic “Amen.”

🙋‍♂️ Why Is It Real?
If the Eucharist were merely symbolic, it would have no power to forgive sins or grant eternal life. The Eucharist, as a real sacrament, conveys divine grace and power—just as Baptism imparts the new life of Christ, the Eucharist provides us with His very body and blood for our salvation.

The Transformation in the Sacrament

The Eucharist is not about tasting physical flesh or blood. It’s not a change in appearance, but a transformation in essence. The bread and wine remain visibly the same, but in their essence, they have become the body and blood of Christ.

🍞 The Bread Remains, but Becomes Christ’s Body
When Christ says, "This is my body," He transforms the bread into His body. Similarly, when He says, "This is my blood," the wine becomes His blood. It’s not symbolic; it is a profound, divine mystery beyond human comprehension.

💖 The Power of Forgiveness
The Eucharist remains a true body and blood, essential for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. This truth transcends human understanding, as it is a divine work that goes beyond reason but is essential for our salvation.

🌳 The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life, mentioned in the Bible, symbolizes the food that gives eternal life. From the beginning of history, God has prepared us for this, and it is through the Eucharist that we partake of this eternal life, just as it was meant in the Garden of Eden before the fall.

In summary, the Eucharist is a divine mystery and a life-giving sacrament, offering us the real presence of Christ's body and blood, which brings forgiveness and eternal life. It is the ultimate expression of thanksgiving and the heart of Christian faith.

Why was man prevented from eating the Tree of Life? 🌳

• The image was distorted: When mankind sinned, his nature became corrupted. Eating from the Tree of Life would have meant remaining in this corrupted state forever.
  Why? Because if a sinner were to receive Communion while still living in sin, it would be like continuing in corruption eternally. Therefore, we prevent someone who is living in sin from receiving Communion until they repent.
  
  💡 The proper approach:
  Repent, place your sins on the blood of Christ through confession, and only then come and receive Communion. This sacrament is for the forgiveness of sins, but if someone insists on corruption, they should not partake.
  
  

Manna: A Precise Reference to the Eucharist 🍞

• Manna in the desert: In the wilderness, God provided manna as food for the Israelites. This food, which came from heaven, symbolized heavenly sustenance. The Israelites said, "Who is this?"—recognizing the miraculous nature of this provision.
  In Psalms, manna is referred to as "the bread of angels," highlighting its divine origin. But even this miraculous food could not prevent death.
  
  

  • Manna was a small miracle pointing to the greater miracle of the Eucharist.

• Jesus' discussion with the Jews:
  The Jews challenged Jesus, asking for a sign like the manna their ancestors ate. Jesus responded:
  
  "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead; but I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." (John 6:49-51)
  The manna only sustained temporarily, but Jesus offers eternal life through His body and blood, a food that prevents death.
  
  
  🩸 Spiritual death: For those who partake of Communion, there is no eternal damnation.
  
  

Eucharist: The Mystery Revealed 🍷

• The Eucharist is not just a symbol—it is the real body and real blood of Christ. Jesus Himself confirmed this in John 6:55:
  
  
  "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."
  
  
  This is beyond reason. It is a divine mystery. The bread remains in appearance as bread, but in essence, it becomes the body of Christ. Similarly, the wine is no longer just wine but the blood of Christ.
  
  

Why Can't We Simply Call It a Symbol? 🏛️

• A symbol would lack power. If the Eucharist were merely a symbol, it would not provide forgiveness of sins or eternal life.

  • Baptism is not a mere sign, but a sacrament that brings true sonship and new life. Similarly, Communion is not just a symbol, but the actual body and blood of Christ, essential for eternal life.

The Spiritual Meaning of "Remembrance" ✝️

• Remembrance (Greek: "anamnesis") in the Eucharistic context is more than recalling an event—it is the re-presentation of Christ's sacrifice, made present every time we partake in Communion.
  
  "Take, eat, this is My body... this is My blood, do this in remembrance of Me." (Matthew 26:26-28)
  Remembrance in this context does not mean simply recalling the past. It means re-living and re-experiencing Christ's sacrifice, making His presence a reality in our worship.

The Church's Understanding of the Eucharist 🙏

• Faith passed down: The Eucharist is the faith of the Church delivered to the saints and handed down through the centuries. The Church’s belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist has been living and active for over 2000 years.
  
  

• Transformation in the liturgy:
  The priest's actions during the liturgy are not his own but Christ's. Christ sanctifies the bread and wine through the priest, making it His true body and blood.
  
  

  • The Holy Spirit descends to transform the offerings and sanctify those who receive.

• 🔥 The real presence: When we approach the altar, we do not just remember Christ—we encounter Him.
  
  

The Church Fathers and the Eucharist 💒

• The Church Fathers spoke passionately about the importance of the Eucharist. They believed in its power to sanctify and transform the faithful. The Eucharist is not just a ritual but a life-giving encounter with Christ.
  
  "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)
  
  Communion is not just an act of remembrance but the means of receiving eternal life and forgiveness.

The Role of Tradition in Understanding the Eucharist 📜

• Holy Tradition is an essential part of the Church’s faith. It is not in conflict with the Bible but complements and precedes it, passing down the faith from the Apostles.
  Tradition helps interpret the Bible correctly, preserving the understanding of sacraments like Baptism and Communion.

• 📖 The Eucharist in Acts: The phrase "breaking bread" refers not just to eating food, but to the sacred act of celebrating the Eucharist.
  
  "They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42)
  In the early Church, breaking bread was a ritual of worship, not just eating.

Conclusion: The Eucharist, A Timeless Gift ✨

• The Eucharist has been the center of Christian worship for over two millennia. It connects the faithful to the sacrifice of Christ and the life of the Church.

  • Christ is present in every liturgy, making the Eucharist not just a remembrance, but an actual encounter with the Divine.

1. Animal Sacrifice and the Temple's Destruction: The discussion starts with the reference to the destruction of the Jewish temple as a necessary step because the practice of animal sacrifice was still being performed despite being meant to be abolished. Christ's prophecy, “See, your house is left to desolation” (Luke 13:35), highlights the end of the temple as God's house, symbolizing the shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant in Christ.
   
   

2. Eucharist as Life: The central focus here is on the Eucharist as the true body and blood of Christ. The early church, exemplified by Paul’s actions, celebrated the Eucharist and understood it to be the life-giving body of Christ. The breaking of the bread, as seen in Acts 19, is a powerful symbol of Christ's sacrifice bringing life.
   
   

3. Real Body and Blood of Christ: A reference to John 6 shows that Christ's words about eating His body were meant literally, contrary to the rationalistic objections some Jews had. He did not clarify or soften His message, showing that the Eucharist is indeed the real body and blood of Christ, a truth embraced by the early Church.
   
   

4. The Church Lives by the Eucharist: The Eucharist is central to Christian life and worship. The altar and the Eucharist are the heart of every church, and through baptism and chrismation, believers become partakers of this life. The Eucharist is described as an intimate union with Christ, likened to a marriage or engagement.
   
   

5. Unity in the Body of Christ: Drawing from 1 Corinthians 10:17 and early Christian writings, the text emphasizes that the Church is united as one body, regardless of cultural or individual differences. This unity is experienced in the Eucharist, where believers partake in one body and spirit.
   
   

6. Faith and Simplicity: The Church is portrayed as valuing simple, childlike faith over intellectualism. The Eucharist is accepted with faith, as a gift that provides eternal life. The emphasis is on trust and belief in Christ's words, without over-rationalizing or dismissing the sacrament.
   
   

7. Tradition and Continuity: The text concludes with the assurance that the Eucharist is a sacred trust passed down from Christ to the apostles, and from the apostles to the Church. It is something holy, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and is an essential part of the life of believers.
   
   

This reflection underscores the importance of the Eucharist as the spiritual life of the Church and the faithful union with Christ through this sacrament. It also stresses the need for childlike faith and trust in the Church’s tradition, which has been handed down faithfully from the apostles.