Expert: Rick Jackson - 3/27/2007

Question
I have a fundamentalist Christian always attacking me at work for believing Jesus is in the Eucharist and in penance. What is the biblical backup we have for the belief in the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  

Answer
PS.  Here are a couple of good webpages to check out too:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Christ_in_the_Eucharist.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp

As a fundamental, he/she probably takes the Bible literally.

...so he/she should not think it odd that we take the very words of Jesus literally.  "This IS my body", he said, not "This is a representation of my body".

This issue is like many other issues, including the Trinity: the early Church debated and discussed it - and agreed that He meant what he was saying.

Turn the tables even further: Where is the Biblical Basis for Sola Scriptura (that is, that the Bible alone is the sole rule of faith).  It says that nowhere in the Bible...and in fact the Bible teaches otherwise:

2 Thessalonians 2:15
" So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."

1 Corinthians 11:2
"I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you."

2 Timothy 1:13-14
"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."

2 Timothy 2:1-2
"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

...I hope that helps.

Rick
www.catholictruths.com