Convinced

There are many of God's children who for one reason or another do not or cannot believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  And nothing in the way of science or reasoning, or logic or mathematics, or any other "I've got to see it to believe it" methods are going to convince them.  The only proof we have is that Jesus Christ Himself tells us , "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (John 6:51-58)   Faith is the only proof I need.

Here's another way to look at it: When a man and a woman fall in love, they usually express their love verbally and often.  But how can they know for sure that the love is there with just words, and no actions (no, not "relations") to back those words up?  They can't, until they have built a trust in one another based on intimacy and friendship and they can't help but to believe unequivocally that the words have truth.  It's the same with Jesus telling us that the Eucharist is truly His flesh and blood.  He doesn’t mince words with us.  He tells us point-blank at the last supper that this is His Body which will be given up for us.  And that the wine becomes His Blood which is the new and everlasting covenant, which was shed for us and for ‘the many’ (Matthew 26:28), so that sins may be forgiven.  And I know that this is true, because I continue to develop an intimate relationship with Him through thoughtful prayer and penance that assures me of His Truth and allows me to believe in Him to the point that everything He tells me is true—I no longer have to see it to believe it.

Peter, in John’s Gospel, gets it: “Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?’  Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.’” (John 6: 67-69)

Well said, Pete, well said.