Originally posted by VOW
To Joe:
Jesus couldn't change the Bread and Wine into ACTUAL flesh and blood, because He would have violated the Law in the Old Testament. Remember, He had to abide by the Law, too.
The dietary Laws of the Old Testament were more than just strange practices that made the Jews "different" from their neighbors. Looking at them through modern eyes, knowing what we do about bacteria and disease, it's very easy to see that the cleanliness and the banning of certain meats went a long way to insure that the Jews SURVIVED. Those were not the days of internal meat thermometers, modern refrigeration, or even pressure canning methods of keeping foods.
Bread is very stable. In a dry climate, it will keep for days. Wine is very stable, too. The fermentation process which creates wine is also a preservative. So Jesus is using common foods that are found in every household, foods that don't need extraordinary preservation methods, so we don't have to worry about poisoning the congregation with salmonella or worse.
Bread is basic, too. For most of the world, bread is literally the staff of life. Bread, or a bread-like substance, provides nearly all the nourishment of the population. Wine is a miracle drink of sorts....it can be kept, it makes you feel good, it purifies water, it can be an excellent medicine.
Bread and wine are in the Old Testament. We have continuity. What is the first miracle of Jesus? Multiplying wine. How did He feed the multitudes? Multiplying bread.
Actual flesh, and actual blood would soon spoil. Bread and wine will keep.
Peace be with you,
~VOW
I'm a non-RC who agrees wholeheartedly with Transubstantiation. I can't justify making it the rule of faith though. It is a stumbling block for many and what is of the greatest importance is belief in the real presence.
