Reflecting on the Real Presence

Recently, I had the great pleasure of talking with a young man about the Real Presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, in the context of interfaith relationships and prospective marriage. He is Catholic and his girlfriend is Baptist. She has a hard time accepting that she is excluded from receiving Holy Communion during a Catholic Mass. In the same way, Catholics should not receive Communion at Christian worship services where the belief is that the bread and wine is only a symbol or representation of the Body and Blood of Christ.

As we talked, I get a sense that he (unlike the 70%+ Catholic) truly believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He understands that when Catholics say "Amen" in response to "The Body of Christ" or "The Blood of Christ", we are affirming our belief that the bread and wine has truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. We affirm our belief that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith and the Christian life.

The Catholic Church has upheld this teaching of the Real Presence from the very beginning, a teaching given to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ himself in his Discourse on the Bread of Life (John 6:22-59), saying: "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink" (John 6:55). Those who do not believe walked away. . . "Then many of his disciples who were listening said, 'This saying is hard; who can accept it?'” (John 6:30). Moreover, during the Last Supper, Jesus said:

Matthew 26:26 & Mark 14:22 - “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Luke 22:19 - "This is my body, which will be given for you. . ."

Matthew 26:28 & Mark 14:24 - "This is my blood of the covenant. . ."

Luke 22:20 - "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you."

I invited him to invite his girlfriend to Eucharistic Adoration (or Procession) and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to her. It is okay that she does not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It also means that she should be okay with not receiving Holy Communion during a Catholic Mass, especially if she cannot respond "Amen" with conviction and truth in her heart.