According to Scripture, Is Jesus Truly Present in the Holy Eucharist?

Is Jesus truly present Body and Blood - and thus also Soul and Divinity - in the Holy Eucharist? Due to lack of catechesis, about a third of Catholics do not believe so.[1] But, there is plenty of scriptural support to the contrary.

Scriptures showing Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

Jesus said He is present bodily - in the “flesh” - five (5) times and in “blood” four (4) times.

John 6:51-65: I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

Reasons to believe Jesus’ words in John 6

1) Jesus has the power to change into a different form.

Mk 16:12-13: After this he [Jesus] appeared in another form to two of them [disciples], as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Since Jesus has the power to change form, we should definitely not rule it out that Jesus can change into the form that appears to be bread and wine.

2) Jesus has power over the elements of the world and to create out of nothing.

Mk 4:37-39: And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Gen 1: God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.... “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so....

Because Jesus - God (cf. Jn 1:1) - has power over the elements and the power to create things out of nothing, we should have no reason to doubt that He can change the elements of bread and wine into anything He wants, including His body and blood.

Paul said Jesus is present body and blood in the Eucharist.

1 Cor 10:16-18: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

1 Cor 11:24-25: and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the chalice after supper, saying, “This chalice is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Cor 11:27: Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.

The Book of Exodus alludes to Jesus’ flesh being eaten since He is the Lamb of God (cf. Jn 1:29).

Exodus 12:5-14: Your lamb shall be without blemish…. They shall eat the flesh that night... with unleavened bread…. This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as an ordinance forever.

For Passover, the Jews would eat the flesh of the lamb that they sacrificed (cf. Ex 12). Again, since Jesus is the new Lamb of God, His flesh will now be eaten in this ordinance which will be “forever.”

Conclusion:

Though this is an introduction to the Eucharist, it has been shown that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus, His apostles, and God in the Old Testament proclaimed and foretold this miraculous event. And there is truly no doubt that Jesus can change Himself into what appears as bread and wine because he has changed forms before and he has power over the elements of the world and to create out of nothing. Let us now, having scriptural reasons to believe, not be like Jesus’ disciples who chose to no longer follow Him after hearing this sacred truth (cf. Jn 6:66). Instead, let us give thanks and adore Him in this humble state.

References:

[1] D'Antonio, Dillion, & Gautier (2013). American Catholics in transition Chart

Catholic Answers, Christ in the Eucharist
Tim Staples, How can we know Jesus is really present in the Eucharist?

By: Fidel Valenzuela

Servants of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts