Most Catholic apologists focus on the 6th chapter of John's gospel when discussing scriptural evidence for the Catholic doctrines of the real presence of Christ in the eucharist. However, I'd like to bring attention to what I think is perhaps the most underused text in defence of this teaching. Paul explains this teaching as well as the sacrificial nature of the mass in the 10th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthian church. I hope that Catholics and non-Catholics alike will read and meditate upon this passage so as to truly appreciate the profound teaching contained in this text. So without further ado is my commentary on the text.
I
Corinthians 10:1-4 "I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our
ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and
all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All
ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for
they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was
the Christ."
I
Corinthians 10:15-17 "I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for
yourselves what I am saying. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it
not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is
it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread
is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one
loaf."
I
skipped verses 5-14 where Paul speaks about idolatry in order to put
these two sections of text closer together for comparison. Understand
what Paul is saying. Paul says that the Israelites were BAPTIZED into
Moses in the CLOUD and the SEA. This is an allusion to Christian baptism
and the reception of the Holy Spirit (cloud) in baptism. And just as
the Israelites were baptized into Moses, we are baptized into Christ.
Continuing on, he says that they all ate the same SPIRITUAL FOOD (the
mana) and all drank the same SPIRITUAL DRINK (the water which flowed
from the rock which followed them in the wilderness) and that the ROCK
WAS CHRIST. It is with this is mind that Paul then writes that the cup
of blessing is a participation in the blood of Christ and the bread is a
participation in the body of Christ. So, just as the rock was Christ,
so also is the wine and the bread Christ. And just as the Israelites all
ate and drank this spiritual food, we also eat and drink the spiritual
food that is Christ.
I
Corinthians 10:18-22 "Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not
those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? So what am I
saying? That meat sacrificed to idols is anything? Or that an idol is
anything? No, I mean that what they sacrifice, [they sacrifice] to
demons, not to God, and I do not want you to become participants with
demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons.
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.
Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger? Are we stronger than
he?"
This
passage helps explain why Paul spoke about idolatry in verses 5-14 and
why he follows after this about not eating food sacrificed to idols. Pay
attention to his argument. Those who offer sacrifices EAT the
sacrifices. He goes on to say that what the pagans offer up as a
sacrifice is sacrificed to demons - not to God. So he is comparing the
Eucharist to the sacrifices of pagans, but the Eucharist is offered to
God - not demons. We cannot serve two masters, so we should not offer
sacrifices both to God and demons; we must choose one or the other. So
when Paul refers to the "table of the Lord" he is confirming that this
"table" is an altar of sacrifice. So in summary, Paul is confirming that
the Eucharist is a sacrifice, and when we eat it we are eating a
sacrificial offering to God.
Scripture citations were taken from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/10/
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