I can not agree with you that the Scriptures teach us that the Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Jesus. You are welcome to believe whatever you choose to believe but IMO it is Catholic dogma you are following and not the Bible.
Nowhere in scripture do we find this teaching. We see scriptures refer to the elements as the body and blood, but we also see Jesus clearly stating that the words He was speaking were spiritual words when talking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood:
John 6:63......
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing;
the words that I have spoken to you are SPIRIT and are life,".
He did not say they were literal words; that is, He did not say that they were His actual body and blood.
After The institution of the communion supper, both the elements were still referred to as bread and wine. Matthew 26:26-29.....................
"And while they were eating, Jesus took
some bread, and after a blessing, He broke
it and gave
it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave
it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom,".
Consider that after Jesus said, "This is my blood," in
Matt. 26:28, he said............... "But I say to you, I will not drink of this
fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Fathers kingdom,"
Why would Jesus speak figuratively of His blood as "the fruit of the vine" if it was his literal blood? He called it wine.
Then please consider the fact that there is no indication in the Biblical accounts of the Last Supper that the disciples thought that the bread and wine changed into the actual body and blood of Christ. Are we to believe that the disciples who were sitting right there with Jesus actually thought that what Jesus was holding in his hands was his literal body and blood? There is no indication that they thought this.
The Roman Catholic interpretation of the Eucharist requires the participant to eat human flesh and drink human blood. Remember, Roman Catholicism teaches that the bread and the wine become the actual body and blood of Christ. Essentially, this amounts to cannibalism. What does the Scripture say concerning this?
"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off," (
Lev. 17:14).
Notice that the scripture says that you are not to eat the blood of any flesh. It would certainly appear that the Roman Catholic view is in contradiction to the Old Testament scripture since it advocates the eating of the blood of Christ. To the RCC it is not just symbolic; it is the actual eating and drinking of the body of Christ.
You said................
"What we do know, however, is that Scripture supports the Eucharist as being the body and blood of Christ. We affirm that wholeheartedly"..
Wonderful. However, have you thought this through thoroughly?????
Your interpretation of the Eucharist requires the participant to eat human flesh and drink human blood. Remember, Roman Catholicism teaches that the bread and the wine
become the actual body and blood of Christ. Essentially, whether you will admit it, or not, this amounts to cannibalism. BUT, What does the Scripture say concerning this?
Leviticus 17:14.....................
"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel,
You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off," .
Notice that the scripture says that you are not to eat the blood of any flesh. It would certainly appear that the view your are advocating is in contradiction to the Old Testament scripture since it advocates the eating of the blood of Christ. To the RCC it is not just symbolic; it is the actual eating and drinking of the body of Christ.