Analogy between TV and the Real Presence

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I’m thinking about volunteering to teach catechism and one of the things that I want to drive home is the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I thought of this analogy and this idea started to grow and then I thought I needed to throw this out for discussion.
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I would start by introducing a scene where a modern person (early 21st century) was told to go into a room with a recliner sitting in front of a box that looked like a TV.  This person would recognize these objects and decide he was being asked to watch the screen.  After a few moments he would notice nothing was happening and look for the remote or the power switch.  But seeing neither one, he would be confused and wonder what now.
Now lets suppose that this is a new TV that responds to voice commands, maybe our 21st century person would guess that and start talking to it or he might just sit there and wait.
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Now let’s put a person from the early 20th century in the room, or a 17th century, or a 12th century and so on. Each person would look at the scene differently depending on their experience.
Now if we take that same person and put them in a room with the Blessed Sacrament with an altar and a kneeler. Now what would the people do. This would be a way to emphasize the long history of Eucharistic adoration. I’m just not sure how long it’s been around.Does anybody know?
So this could be used to explain the importance of recognizing the real presence using an item that is “worshiped” by modern kids
So my next thought is to relate what the TV displays with what the person may experience in prayer in front of the blessed sacrament. But I’m not sure how far I can carry this anaolgy. I could talk about discernment etc…

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
 
About your idea of using a TV as an analogy for the Tabernacle, my first reaction is that it is a bit of a stretch and may be more confusing than helpful. But then, I’m not a modern teen. I would think it would be all right, but it might just be too “outside the box” (pardon the pun). :whacky:
 
It occurs to me that Eucharistic Adoration attendance has been replaced by watching TV for too many Catholics.

People won’t even join a Church group or committee if a meeting clashes with a favourite programme.
 
I’m not sure if you understand what I’m trying to relate. I’m trying to get across the great mystery of the Real Presence through an everyday item that would have been mysterious to our ancestors. I’m tyring to open their minds to a great mystery that is before them in the Blessed Sacrament just like the TV would be a great mystery to our ancestors unless someone helped them understand.
Thanks for the comments.
 
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jhnsn:
I’m not sure if you understand what I’m trying to relate. I’m trying to get across the great mystery of the Real Presence through an everyday item that would have been mysterious to our ancestors. I’m tyring to open their minds to a great mystery that is before them in the Blessed Sacrament just like the TV would be a great mystery to our ancestors unless someone helped them understand.
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 Thanks for the comments.
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What you’re trying to do is laudable, however you might just be creating another mystery? Why not just first foster in them a love for Christ (through writing and relection) and then take them to visit a Chapel and say, that’s Jesus in the tabernacle…

Its straight forward and gets it done… 😃
 
It’s a nice try, but I don’t think it necessary works. I agree with twiztedseraph there.

Why not go for a more traditional explanation? I mean, I’m 17 years old, but I don’t need something to be ‘relevant’ to understand it. Yes, the explanations of the Real Presence are very dense, but people can grasp them, just as long as you challenge them, explain it well, and they apply themselves too. (Emphasize that belief comes before understanding. Jesus is God. Jesus said X. So, believe X, because Jesus said it. So once you’ve gone thoroughly over the biblical and patristic evidence for the Real Presence, which should be pretty convincing in and of itself, give the explanations about the Real Presence. This way, I’m sure, works. Lead them into wonder about the nature of the Sacrament, and that wonder will leek to their seeking understanding.)

Quite honestly, I find it very embarrasing when an adult tries to make religion relevant or hip; no matter how well intentioned, it comes out cheesy. Treat us like adults. We’ll appreciate it.
 
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jhnsn:
I’m thinking about volunteering to teach catechism and one of the things that I want to drive home is the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist…
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First, not to discourage any efforts to explain the Real Presence, but I think your analogy is confusing. I don’t see the parallel between the TV and the Real Presence.

Second, I don’t know what grade you have in mind to teach, but when you teach CCD, you will be using a textbook and following the lessons that are in the book. While it’s fine to want to discuss the Real Presence, you will also be teaching a whole range of topics, and only one of them may be the Real Presence. The teacher’s book will have explanations and ideas for discussion for all these topics.
 
I agree with going with a straight-forward explanation. Jesus said ‘This IS my body’ at the Last Supper. Pretty straight-forward. I love the words to ‘Down in Adoration Falling’: Faith will tell us Christ is present, when our human senses fail. It’s all about faith - we can’t always trust what our human senses tell us - we have to trust what Jesus tells us. Can’t get much clearer than that. We sell our kids and adults short sometimes on trying to find a way to explain something, when all we have to do is…explain it!
 
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