The Eucharist

        

The Eucharist refers to the bread and the wine used in communion. It is the presence of Christ within the bread that is broken and the wine that is distributed. Communion is a sacrament in all branches of Christianity because it is a remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ. Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 6 all show when Christ instituted the Eucharist. Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox all have different views of the Eucharist, but are similar in some aspects. 

Catholic: The Catholic Churches believe in transubstantiation which means that the substance of the bread and the wine turn into Christ while the outward appearance remains the same. They do adoration of the Eucharist because they believe that Christ is present within the bread. 

Orthodox: The Orthodox go for a more mystical view of the Eucharist. They do not label it as transubstantiation. They believe that Christ is genuinely present within the bread and wine like the Catholics, but leave it up to mystery on how it is done. 

Protestant: The protestant churches have different views on what happens within the Eucharist. For example, the Lutherans and some Anglicans believe that Christ is fully present in the Eucharist. (Like the Catholics and Orthodox) However, the reformed churches believe that Christ is spiritually present rather than physically present. Then there are the Baptists/Ana-baptists that believe that the Eucharist is merely symbolic, and that it is done in remembrance. 

Where do I stand? 

I believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist, however I am unsure whether it is spiritual or physical presence. 

Quotes about the Eucharist: 

Ignatius of Antioch: “I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible” (Letter to the Romans 7:3 [A.D. 110]).

Justin Martyr: “We call this food Eucharist, and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and for regeneration [i.e., has received baptism] and is thereby living as Christ enjoined. For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nurtured, is both the flesh and the blood of that incarnated Jesus” (First Apology 66 [A.D. 151]). 

Clement of Alexandria: “’Eat my flesh,’ [Jesus] says, ‘and drink my blood.’ The Lord supplies us with these intimate nutrients, he delivers over his flesh and pours out his blood, and nothing is lacking for the growth of his children” (The Instructor of Children 1:6:43:3 [A.D. 191]).

Martin Luther: "And we have, in the first place, the clear text in the very words of Christ: “Do this in remembrance of me.” These are bidding and commanding words by which all who would be Christians are enjoined to partake of this Sacrament. Therefore, whoever would be a disciple of Christ, with whom He here speaks, must also consider and observe this, not from compulsion, as being forced by men, but in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to please Him. However, if you say: “But the words are added, ‘As oft as ye do it;’ there He compels no one, but leaves it to our free choice,” I answer, “That is true, yet it is not written that we should never do so. Yea, just because He speaks the words ‘As oft as ye do it,’ it is nevertheless implied that we should do it often” (Dr. Martin Luther (Large Catechism, The Sacrament of the Altar; paragraphs 39-47).

John Calvin: To this end, he has given another sacrament to his Church by the hand of his only-begotten Son—viz. a spiritual feast, at which Christ testifies that he himself is living bread (John 6:51), on which our souls feed, for a true and blessed immortality. (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Chapter 17)