John 6 Eucharist question

[dizzy_dave]

I am reading the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible. In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verse 52, Jesus says “If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” Then verses 54-55 Jesus says that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will have everlasting life. My question is this:

If we as Catholics partake in the Eucharist as Jesus is saying here, it seems we are assured of heaven, but I know that’s not the case. There are probably many Catholics who will not get to heaven who partake in the Eucharist. So what is Jesus saying here? I think I am missing something, or not understanding it correctly.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

My question is this:

If we as Catholics partake in the Eucharist as Jesus is saying here, it seems we are assured of heaven, but I know that’s not the case. There are probably many Catholics who will not get to heaven who partake in the Eucharist. So what is Jesus saying here? I think I am missing something, or not understanding it correctly.

Please clarify your question. I just want to make sure that I answer accordingly.

 

[epostle]

Jesus is not implying anything about those who do not eat. He is talking about those who will know what they are doing. In the true sense it is part of the process of salvation, but not the only part.

 

[dizzy_dave]

verses 54-55 Jesus says that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will have everlasting life.

Hi P & L,

I guess this part is what’s bothering me. I know Catholics who go to Mass (partake in the Eucharist) and are not living good lives. Some are drunkards, adulterers, etc. (I’m no saint either - far from it). It just seems to me that its not so cut and dry as Jesus says. That’s why I know there is more to it than I am understanding. Does that help any?

 

[Todd_Easton]

In John 6, Jesus gives one of the many components of salvation. It should be read along with the rest of what Jesus says.

Faith, water baptism, receiving the Eucharist, keeping the commandments, etc., are all normally necessary for salvation, when possible.

Generally speaking, faith alone does not save without the others; water baptism alone does not save without the others; receiving the Eucharist alone does not save without the others; and keeping the commandments alone does not save without the others.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Hi P & L,

I guess this part is what’s bothering me. I know Catholics who go to Mass (partake in the Eucharist) and are not living good lives. Some are drunkards, adulterers, etc. (I’m no saint either - far from it). It just seems to me that its not so cut and dry as Jesus says. That’s why I know there is more to it than I am understanding. Does that help any?

Take this in combination with Saint Paul’s warning:

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

[1 Corinthians 11:26-28 ] Unless one is free of serious sin and truly repentent the Eucharist is a curse rather than a blessing.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

Hi P & L,
I guess this part is what’s bothering me. I know Catholics who go to Mass (partake in the Eucharist) and are not living good lives. Some are drunkards, adulterers, etc. (I’m no saint either - far from it). It just seems to me that its not so cut and dry as Jesus says. That’s why I know there is more to it than I am understanding. Does that help any?

AH!
Well, one of the main parts of Catholicism is not just that we proclaim Jesus as Our Lord and Savior, but we live our lives as such. We can prove through how we lived our lives as testimony to our proclamation. (Faith ANDd Good Works )

When it comes to those receiving unworthily, we can do little more than remind them that they ought not to receive unless they have attended confession. We cannot force them to go. To that end, it is left to God’s judgment what to do with them. However, if St. Paul’s words are any indication, that judgment will be severe.

 

[steppenwolf1218]

I am reading the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible. In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verse 52, Jesus says “If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” Then verses 54-55 Jesus says that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will have everlasting life. My question is this:

If we as Catholics partake in the Eucharist as Jesus is saying here, it seems we are assured of heaven, but I know that’s not the case. There are probably many Catholics who will not get to heaven who partake in the Eucharist. So what is Jesus saying here? I think I am missing something, or not understanding it correctly.

This is one of those passages where we here in the 21st century are not given all the information needed from the scripture. The reason being was that the authors of the books of the Bible often assumed certain points as being a given. In this case, John assumes that his readers will know the significance of Jesus’ command. To a first century Jew, there was a strong belief in the “you are what you eat” addage. What Jesus is saying here is that by eating His flesh and drinking His blood, He becomes fully part of that person. That is one of the two points of the Eucharist celebration. The first is the rememberance (or more correctly experiencing the event) of the sacrifice Jesus made in order to atone for our sins. The second is to willing allow our Lord to become fully a part of ourselves. Both together complete the Paschal Sacrifice. Note here that it was commanded of God’s people to prepare the lamb in a certain fashion and it was to be consumed totally for the Passover. By instituting the Eucharist, Jesus enables us to be able to complete His perfect offering to the Father. This puts the holiness of the Eucharist into the proper perspective.

Receiving the Eucharist is receiving the grace of God. In doing so, if that grace is kept within us it dies within us. By its very nature the grace of God must be shared. It is not simply receiving a gift. It is a way of becoming. It is like hearing the Word. If one merely physically hears the Word then all one has done is to hear words. If one listens and receives the Word then it starts to transform us. Likewise to casually receive the Eucharist or to receive it out of either obligation or ritualistic repetition is to merely eat a wafer. To fully believe that the Eucharist brings the presence of Christ into our lives and works to transform we who receive Him fully and openly is to partake in the paschal celebration that is the Eucharist.

You see, it is easy to get side tracked with these type of passages. The point to always remember is that there is no check list or to do list for the Kingdom. We can attend Mass every Sunday, receive Communion, go to confession regularly and even make generous contributions to the weekly offering and it will no more guarantee our seat in Heaven than if we were atheistic if in fact that is all we do. Ref. here Isaiah and Amos for what God thinks of "burnt offerings’.

We must take these precious gifts we receive and bring them to the world to see and share in by our actions. It is by our love that we will be judged just. It is by our leadership through service that we will be deemed worthy.

I hope this sheds some light on the subject to enable you to attain a fuller understanding.

Take care
Dennis