Do you know what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) calls the "SOURCE and SUMMIT of the Christian life?" I'll give you three choices: 1-the Word of God, 2-faith in Jesus, or, 3-the Eucharist? If you're not sure, don't guess. Just read along with me.

There's a beautiful, Old Testament passage, Malachi 1:11, written more than 450 years before the Incarnation of Jesus. It says, "For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, my name is great among the nations; and everywhere they bring sacrifice to my name, and a pure offering; for great is my name among the nations, says the Lord of Hosts."

When Malachi was written, God's name was not great among the nations (among the gentiles) and a pure offering was not being made to God from everywhere. This was a prophesy of things to come. The Church has taught for 2000 years that Malachi was speaking of Jesus Christ: the purest offering ever made to God.

Remember, it was only after Jesus had lived among us that the Gospel message was taken to the gentiles and preached to all the nations.

The EUCHARIST is the source and summit of the Christian life. Paragraph 1324 in the CCC tell us, "For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself."

The Church has always taught that Jesus Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine, is really and truly present in the Eucharist: His body and blood, His soul and divinity. At Mass when Father says, "This is my body" and "This is my blood," God miraculously changes ordinary bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Every time we go to Mass we are witnesses to the greatest miracle ever performed. It's a greater miracle than Jesus' ascension into heaven.

Non-Catholic and non-Orthodox Christians will often ask, "Have you accepted Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior?" We should smile and offer a resounding "Yes! I accept Jesus into my whole being every time I receive Holy Communion."

Your response may bring on another question meant to make you question your faith, "You don't really believe you eat Jesus when you take communion, do you?"

Stand your ground. The Bible, overwhelmingly, supports the Catholic and Orthodox belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Luke 22:19-20 says, "And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And likewise the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.'"

Mt 26:26-28, Mk 14:22-24, and 1 Cor 11:23-25, likewise, speak of the institution of the Eucharist by Jesus at the last supper.

In 1 Cor 11:27, Saint Paul shows his belief in the real presence of Jesus in the bread and wine when he says, "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthy sins against the body and blood of the Lord." If the Eucharist were only a symbol, Saint Paul's words would not make sense. How can you sin against a symbol?

There are places in the Bible where Jesus does talk about food in a symbolic or figurative way. Jn 4:31-34 and Mt 16:5-12 are two examples. In these passages, when the disciples think Jesus is speaking of real food, He shows them that He's speaking figuratively. Throughout scripture our Lord clarifies Himself to avoid confusing His followers. Mt 13:1-24 and Mt 15:1-20 are two examples.

Here's a powerful passage from John 6. In verses 53-56, Jesus states, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him."

Six times in verses 53 through 58 Jesus talks literally about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Jesus' followers understood that He was not speaking symbolically, because many of them in verses 66 walk away from Him. If Jesus was speaking symbolically, they would not have left the Man who performed miracles, healed the sick, cured the blind, fed the multitude, and walked on water. If Jesus was speaking symbolically, and He saw His followers walking away, He would have cleared up the misunderstanding. He didn't.

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 1322-1419. Also, read the following Bible passages: Mt 26:26-28, Mk 14:22-24, 1 Cor 11:23-32, 1 Cor 10:14-17, Lk 24:30-31, Jn 4:31-34, Mt 16:5-12, Jn 6 (especially, 25-71), Ex 12:8 & 46, and 1 Cor 5:7.