Originally posted by Dualhunter:
The fact that He said do this in remembrance of me shows that it was symbolic. You cannot remember something which is actually happening. If something is actually happening, you are experiencing it not remembering it, therefore the concept of the mass is false.
That's not the case. At a funeral, is not the body of the deceased present, and yet you remember the individual who is right there before you? On 9/11, you watched planes crash into the WTC. Then a year later, you watched it over again on TV...where you saw it the first place. It was the same incident, and you reexperienced in the same way, while at the same time remembering what happened the first time.
The Mass is experiencing Christ while at the same time remembering the sacrifice He paid, his death on the cross for our sins. We remember the price He paid and share in His passion with Him.
I'm sure you'll refute this, but it's not an illogical train of thought, and it's perfectly valid, regardless if you believe it or not (which you don't).
Originally posted by Dualhunter:
The fact that He said it is His body combined with the fact that it was in every physical way still bread shows that it is symbolic as well.
I know, aren't miracles great? When you experience a miracle, I bet you think to yourself, "I can't believe my eyes!" Sometimes our senses only perceive what we need to perceive so that faith can carry us the rest of the way home.
Originally posted by Dualhunter:
And before you start quoting verses saying that Jesus said that we need to eat Him, consider this: Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. If you think you are physically eating Jesus, when was the last time you ate your Bible?
Heavens, now I'm told not to quote the Bible. Darned if I do, darned if I don't, right? Honestly, how civil was that?
Second, nowhere in your verse does it use the words flesh (which is used, for instance, in John 6 a total of five times), nor is there the verb EAT. There is no reason to take that literally, so I have no reason to attempt such a thing.
May the Lord bless and keep you,
Grant