Transubstantiation.

[sky]

Originally Posted by inavalan

If you really want to understand what it is about, then it is simple: all is symbolical

Symbolic to some but not all.

"For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (John 6:54-56).

Is Jesus speaking merely metaphorically when He uses the words 'true'.....

[sky]

I personally find what St. Ambrose has to say interesting.

Be convinced that this is not what nature has formed, but what the blessing has consecrated. The power of blessing prevails over that of nature, because by the blessing nature itself is changed . . . Could not Christ’s word, which can make from nothing what did not exist, change existing things into they were not before? It is no less a feat to give things their original nature than to change their nature.

(St Ambrose, De myst. 9, 50; 52: J. P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina.)

[sky]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

But THIS - I would like to do some research and see if Jesus has channelled what he really meant by this one.

Yes please

[sky]

Originally Posted by Maisy

I don't drink alcohol and hate the taste of wine so I always passed on the wine (blood of Christ) at mass.

Communion Wine is usually Non-Alcoholic, grape juice.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Guillaume

But if your experience is divine, I guess no one would want to interfere.

And it would be impossible to interfere

[Redchic12]

Sky #32

Maybe the scribe who transcribed the bible got it wrong and maybe the word TRUE was added for affect from him or maybe he translated the sentence incorrectly.

Who knows.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

.
But THIS - I would like to do some research and see if Jesus has channelled what he really meant by this one.

So far:
#1 Well, the James E Padgett messages say nothing on this subject.

#2 ACIM - Ken Wapnick the #1 teacher, RIP, comments:
According to Christian teaching, the Eucharist is the sacrament of the transformation of bread and wine into the real body and blood of Christ, veiled under the appearances of bread and wine, which is the endlessly repeated memorial of the death of Jesus for our sins that takes place in the Catholic Mass or Eucharistic liturgy. ..... It is only a memorial, therefore, of the love of Jesus for us.

#3 ''Love Without End'' channeling to Glenda Green
Nothing AT ALL!

Originally Posted by sky

Symbolic to some but not all.

"For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (John 6:54-56).

Is Jesus speaking merely metaphorically when He uses the words 'true'.....

Sky,

IMO…..it is possible to all be true…..symbolically, metaphorically and true(physically). “From dust to dust thou art”….when the first drop of blood of Jesus hit the ground did it change the world in a new way ? Do we now partake of his essence unwittingly? I am a firm believer that anything is possible especially if I believe that God exists. If there is no mystery there is no God……

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Molearner

If there is no mystery there is no God……

What?!
....

[Maisy]

I think the context in which Jesus said those words is helpful in understanding the intended meaning of those words in the story. In the story of the last supper, "last" is very important there as in the story Jesus knew he was going to be betrayed and killed in advance.

Matthew 26:20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

So Jesus already knew what was going to happen. Even more cryptic Jesus in the story knew he was going to be killed and it was in fact, the last meal he would have in his life.

Matthew 26:27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

So when Jesus says, eat my body and drink my blood, to me he is clearly talking about a sacrifice with him being what is being sacrificed. In that time, sacrificing animals was a normal common thing. So I think that is the context in which those words were being spoken. When the church was forming and creating rituals etc the last supper became an important central part of the mass. Dying for our sins etc. A divine sacrifice.

This was a core teaching of Christianity:

Catholic Catechism 617
617 The Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of Christ's sacrifice as "the source of eternal salvation"