When we say that Jesus is speaking figuratively when He said, “…unless you eat the flesh…” we are saying that Jesus was teaching that He must abide inside the heart, not the stomach.
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. [John 14:23]
Yes, and this is also true. However, this is not how those terms were used figuratively in the first century. At the time He spoke them, the figurative meaning of the words was calumny.
If it had meant what you interpret it to mean, then the disciples would not have found it a “hard saying” and stopped following Him.
Jesus did indeed tell us to celebrate communion but He did not assign this task to any priest but to all believers.
Yes, he made this general statement about eating his body and blood to all the disciples. But it was only to the Apostles that He gave the authority to “do this in rememberance of me”. this happened privately, in the upper room.
The early church understood that the only valid communion was that which occured with the bishop, or his appointee (presbyter).
I agree. There are greater and lesser gifts but there is NOT greater and lesser access to the throne of Grace. The priest does not have more access then you to the throne of grace. You will receive true forgiveness when you come boldly to Him as we are commanded to do.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are], [yet] without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Heb 4:15…]
God grants graces to some that he does not to others. The priestly access is different than mine, because he is ordained to certain duties, and I am not. Some have more access as a result of personal piety:
1 Peter 3:7
7 Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.
For example, a man living a graced sacramental marriage will not have his prayers hindered,where one who is living inappropriately in marriage may.
Those who are in a state of grace before God (righteous) have more powerful prayers:
James 5:16
16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.
Some God does not hear their prayers.
Yes, we do receive forgiveness when we come boldly. One of the ways in which this coming is accomplised is through the sacrament of reconciliation. You might consider it, Russ. There is a great spout of glory!
Is it more important to have Jesus present in your heart or in the Eucharist?
I think that Jesus emphasized both,and did not separate them from one another. Do you feel that you need to choose between them? Are you not able to have both? Do you think, if you returned to the Catholic Church, you would no longer have Jesus in your heart?
You cannot receive the Lord through another believer you can only receive Him when you come to directly to Him just as you are, sin and all.
Well, I disagree with this. However, I am not sure that it is germaine to this thread. In either case, we receive Jesus from the hand of the priest. We also receive Him into our heart.
Code:
It is there that He meets us and forgives us and washes us clean and picks us up and makes us stand in His righteousness. Not our own works or by the works of another- but only by His finished work.
Are you still suffering under the misunderstanding that sacraments are “works of man”?
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. [Heb 4:1]
Indeed!
God has had a remnant in every generation just as He had in every generation of Israel even though Israel forsook the word of the Lord and was taken into captivity in Babylon.
I agree! I think that it was corruption among the clergy that largely precipitated the Reformation. What is not clear to me is why those who felt reform was needed did not remain with the authority that Jesus appointed. Maybe they thought there was no holy remnant left?
You did not answer my question, though. We are in agreement that Jesus has kept His promise to guide the Church into all truth. Why, then are those such as yourself who are of fervent heart,not united to those whom Jesus placed in authority over the Church?
All who are led of His Spirit are His church.
I agree, but the Spirit does not lead the flock into 30,000 directions. He also does not lead away from what He has already established. He established Apostles, presbyters, and deacons. He preserved this structure through two millenia. Now, it seems to be your contention that this structure, established by God, is invalid.
If I mis-quoting then post the section of the CCC that teaches otherwise. I have even requested the portions of the CCC that pertain to the sacrament of reconciliation to be posted so we can all examine them, but I have seen none.
Did you quote something from the CCC? I thought you were just making baseless assertions.
I did not post anything on this because it is off topic in this thread. It is a good point to discuss, but it needs a new thread. This one is going to be closed anyhow, as soon as the mods realize how far we are over the 1000 post limit.
Since it is about to close, I want to commend you for your tenacity. Except for one other “bible christian” you have had to take on the lot of us fervent Catholics all by your lonesome. Pretty overwhelming!
It has been a good learning experience for everyone, I trust. I encourage you to post your issue about confession over in the Apologetics section.
