Lesson 26: Holy Communion in the Bible
1. What is Holy Communion?
Holy Communion is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Holy Communion is Jesus, who is loving us.
2. What is one of the symbols of Holy Communion in the Old Testament?
One of the symbols of Holy Communion in the Old Testament is the “manna” in the desert.
3. What was the “manna” in the desert in the Old Testament?
After their departure from Egypt the people of Israel, led by Moses, wandered in the desert for 40n years before reaching the Promised Land. There was nothing to eat in the desert. God gave them bread from heaven called “manna”. This heavenly food gave them the strength to continue their journey toward the Promised Land (Exodus 16)
4. How was the manna in the desert a symbol of Holy Communion?
Just as manna came from heaven, and strengthened the people so that they could make it to the Promised Land, Holy Communion gives us the strength we need to make it to heaven.
Jesus said of Himself in Holy Communion” “I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died… I am the Living Bread come down from heaven… Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this Bread will live forever.” (John 6:48-50, 58)
5. What are the most important passages that speak of Holy Communion in the 4 Gospels?
The most important passages that speak about Holy Communion in the Gospels are the Gospel of John chapter 6 and the passages that speak of the Last Supper.
6. What do we find in John chapter 6?
In John chapter 6 we find the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes; and the miracle of Jesus walking on the water. Following these two miracles Jesus talks about Holy Communion.
7. What did the multiplication of the loaves show?
The multiplication of the loaves showed that Jesus could do miracles with bread. (John 6:1-15)
Jesus fed about 5,000 men with just five loaves of bread and two fish. He multiplied the bread and fish, so that everyone ate until they were full. Twelve large baskets of bread were left over. This was a miracle.
8. What did his walking on water show?
Jesus came to his disciples in the middle of the night. He was walking on the water. He told them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” (John 6:20)
When He walked on water Jesus showed that he could do miracles with his Body. (John 6:16-21)
-Jesus can do miracles with bread.
– Jesu can do miracles with hi body
– Jesus then talked about Holy Communion.
– Holy Communion is a miracle that involves both bread and the Body of Jesus.
9. What did Jesus tell us about receiving Him in Holy Communion?
Jesus said: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and m blood is real drink.” (John 6:53-55)
When we eat the flesh and blood of Jesus in Holy Communion we receive the “life” of Sanctifying Grace, and the Holy Trinity lives in us.
10. When did Jesus first change bread and wine into his Body and Blood?
Jesus first changed bread and wine into his Body and Blood at the Last Supper, the night before He died on the cross.
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is my body,’ Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, ‘drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sin.” (Matthew 26:26-28)
The Miracle of Lanciano, Italy
We believe in the real presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist because He has told us that He is there. We do not believe because of Eucharistic miracles. Having stated this, Jesus has also revealed to us his presence in the Eucharist through many Eucharistic miracles throughout history. One of the more famous miracles took place in Lanciano, Italy in about he year 700 AD. At that time a priest was saying Mass who had some doubts about the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Right after he said the words of consecration the Host changed into visible flesh, and the wine changed into visible blood. Filled with amazement the priest asked God for pardon for ever having doubted.
The flesh and blood still exist after 1300 years and are kept in beautiful containers for people to look at. The Holy See asked for a complete scientific study of the flesh and the blood, using the most advanced medical technology. The study took place in 1970 following strict guidelines that govern modern scientific research. The scientist before examining it were not expecting it to be a miracle. They were amazed at what they found. The flesh was from a human heart. It was perfectly preserved, even though no preserving agent was found. The blood was from a human and was type AB. It also has been preserved for hundreds of years. This is naturally unexplainable. Blood normally decays and spoils very quickly.
Blood type AB is also the blood type that is found on the holy shroud of Turin, which according to tradition was the burial cloth of Jesus.
The Holy See asked other scientist to do the same study. They came up with the same results, which were published in the official newspaper of the Vatican, L Osservatore Romano, in September of 1971
The flesh of the Eucharistic miracle at Lanciano, placed in a glass casing. The circle of flesh appeared around the Host. Over the centuries the appearances of bread pulverized and disappeared, but the flesh remains intact. The preservation of the flesh is also a miracle. Scientist have verified that it is human heart tissue.
St Louis IX, King of France (1214-1270)
On one occasion there was a miracle in the church. People were seeing Jesus in Holy Communion. One of St Louis’ servants came to tell him while he was working, “Your majesty come quickly to the church, a great miracle is taking place. Jesus became present and is visible for all to see. St Louis calmly responded, “Let them go to see the miracle who have any doubt regarding the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. As for me, even if I saw Jesus on the altar I should not be more convinced than I already am. “
Having received his faith from his mother who was also a great saint, St Louis had a great love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Every day he would attend 2 or 3 Masses. He spent about 7 hours a day in prayer. The prayer changed his heart. Jesus gave him a good and holy heart. Some people told him that he spent too much time in prayer. But it was his prayer that made him such a good ruler. In his prayer Jesus helped him to know what to do and gave him the strength to do it. No king in the history of France did so much to improve the life of the people, especially the poor. He had hospitals, schools, and churches built for them. No king had ever loved his people so much. Having received the Eucharist so often, and having spent so much time in prayer he loved them with the very love of Jesus.
