1	The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist Scriptural Foundations for Our Catholic Belief
2	The Real Presence Old Testament Types John 6 : Defending A Literal Interpretation The Eucharist in the Synoptic Gospels The Eucharist in the Pauline Epistles
3	Old Testament Types Melchizadek – Priest-King that offered bread and wine. (Genesis 14:18) The Pascal Lamb - offered up and consumed as food. (Exodus 12:1-20) The Manna – bread that nourished the Israelites in the desert. (Exodus 16:12-35)
4	More OT Types The Ark of the Covenant – kept in the Holy of Holies, contained Manna, the tablets and the Rod of Aaron. (Exodus 16:34, 25:16, Numbers 17:25) The Bread of the Presence – Kept in the Holy of Holies (Exodus 25:30, Lev. 24:5-9 ) Unleavened Bread – mandatory in the offerings that accompanied the Passover sacrifices. Eaten during the Passover (Exodus 23:18, 34:18, 34:25).
5	Other OT Examples of God’s Palpable Presence The Burning Bush (Exodus 3) Thunder, lightening, smoke and clouds on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:16-20) Pillar of Cloud and Fire (Exodus 40:38) Mercy Seat on the Ark in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:17-22)
6	Six for Six: Six Questions to Ask About John 6: How did His listeners interpret His words? Did Jesus correct the “misunderstanding? Is the idiom, “eating another’s flesh” ever used elsewhere in the Bible? Did Jesus ever speak figuratively? Can the original Greek shed light on Jesus’ words? Did the Early Church Interpret John 6 Literally?
7	1) How did His listeners interpret His words? Answer: Literally! John 6:52: “…How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” John 6:60: “…This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” John 6:66: “After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.”
8	2) Did Jesus correct the “misunderstanding”? NO! He did not correct them, because they understood him perfectly! This is the ONLY time in the NT that disciples left him over a doctrinal issue. If he was speaking figuratively, He WOULD have corrected their misunderstanding because staying or leaving him was a matter of life and death and these were his disciples.
9	3) Is “eating another’s flesh” ever used figuratively in the Bible? YES! It ALWAYS means, “to persecute, assault, oppress or destroy another.” Psalm 27:2 Isaiah 9:18-20 Micah 3:3 2 Samuel 23:15-17 Revelation 17:6,16
10	4) Did Jesus ever speak figuratively? YES! Examples: Symbolic Food – John 4:31-34 “I am the Vine.” John 15:1 “I am the Door.” John 10:9
11	5) Can the original Greek shed light Jesus’ words? Efagon = “ephagon” eat or consume. Seen in various forms in John 6:49,50,51,52,53, 58 Trwgwn = “trogon” eat, chew, gnaw, munch (as in meat). Seen in John 6: 54,56,57,58
12	6) Did the Early Church Interpret John 6 Literally? YES! St. Ignatius of Antioch (110 AD) in his letter to the Smyrnaeans: “…the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ…” St. Justin Martyr (150 AD) in his Apology: “…the Eucharist…is both the Flesh and Blood of that incarnated Jesus.”
13	The Eucharist in the Synoptic Gospels Matthew 26:26-30 Mark 14:22-26 Luke 22:14-20
14	The Eucharist in the Pauline Epistles 1 Corinthians 10:16 “Is not the cup of blessing we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” 1 Corinthians 11:23-30 “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
15	References The Holy Bible (RSV CE) Beginning Apologetics 3 How to Explain and Defend the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Fr. Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham, San Juan Catholic Seminars, 1999 Faith Facts, Leon J. Suprenant, Jr. & Philip C.L. Gray, Emmaus Road, 1999 Greek to English Interlinear New Testament, Baker Book House Co., 1981 Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament And Other Early Christian Literature, ed. By F.W. Danker, University of Chicago Press, 1979 www.catholic.com www.envoymagazine.com