Symbol or Reality?
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You said, “This is my body.”
Help me understand what You meant.
Strengthen my faith in the Eucharist
and deepen my reverence for Your presence.
Amen.
Part One
What the Church Teaches
The Church teaches that in the Eucharist:
The bread and wine truly become
the Body and Blood of Christ.
Not symbolically.
Not metaphorically.
Not emotionally.
But really.
This change is called transubstantiation.
The outward appearances remain:
It looks like bread.
It tastes like bread.
But its substance — what it truly is — is changed by the power of Christ’s words.
At every Mass, the priest speaks in the person of Christ:
“This is my body.”
“This is my blood.”
The Church has always taken these words seriously.
If Christ is Lord,
and if He rose from the dead,
then His words have authority.
Pause and Reflect
Do I believe the Eucharist is truly Christ?
Have I ever considered what that would mean for how I receive Holy Communion?
Part Two
The Words of Jesus
At the Last Supper, Jesus did not say:
“This represents my body.”
He said:
“This is my body.”
In the Gospel of John, He taught:
“My flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed.”
Many disciples found this teaching difficult.
Some left Him.
If Jesus had meant only a symbol,
this would have been the moment to clarify.
He did not withdraw the claim.
He allowed them to leave.
This suggests He meant what He said.
The Church’s belief in the Real Presence
is not a later invention.
It is rooted in the words of Christ Himself.
Consider
Why would disciples leave over a metaphor?
If Jesus were misunderstood,
why not correct the misunderstanding?
Part Three
The Early Church
From the earliest centuries, Christians believed
that the Eucharist was truly Christ.
Writings from the second century speak clearly
of the bread becoming the flesh of Christ.
The Church did not slowly develop this belief.
It was present from the beginning.
If the apostles believed they were receiving only a symbol,
why would they use such strong language?
The belief in the Real Presence
flows directly from the Resurrection.
If Christ conquered death,
He can give Himself sacramentally.
The Eucharist is not magic.
It is the action of the risen Christ
through His Church.
Reflect
Do I approach Holy Communion casually?
Would my behaviour change
if I fully believed Christ was present?
Part Four
Why This Matters
If the Eucharist is symbolic only,
then Mass is primarily remembrance.
If the Eucharist is truly Christ,
then Mass is encounter.
This changes everything.
Reverence matters.
Preparation matters.
Confession matters.
The Church teaches that receiving Communion in mortal sin
is spiritually harmful.
Not because God wishes to punish,
but because receiving Christ requires communion with Him.
The Eucharist strengthens grace.
It unites the Church.
It nourishes the soul.
It is not optional devotion.
It is the centre of Catholic life.
Quiet Reflection
Sit quietly.
Imagine standing before Christ Himself.
Would your posture change?
Would your attention sharpen?
If the Eucharist is truly Him,
He is not distant.
He is present.
Remain in silence.
This Week
Choose one:
• Read John 6 slowly and carefully.
• Observe how you approach Communion next Sunday.
• Spend a few minutes in silence after receiving.
• Pray simply: “Lord, increase my faith in Your presence.”
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You give Yourself to us in the Eucharist.
Guard me from indifference.
Deepen my reverence.
Help me receive You worthily
and love You more fully.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 