Most recently a good friend of mine who is a Baptist Minister asked me " How is it that you Catholics believe a piece of bread and a cup of wine are the real body and blood of Jesus Christ?". Let me share with you my answer to him.
Consider this:
In Mark 4:39, ‘He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.’
In John 9:6, ‘He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” He told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.” The mans earthly eyes obeyed His command and were cured of their blindness.
In John 2:7-9, ‘Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. The earthly water obeyed His command and changed to the finest wine.
In Mark 7:34, He spoke the word “Ephphatha,” and the deaf man’s ears were opened and his tongue was loosened to speak.
In John 11:43, at the grave site of his friend, He said ‘Lazarus, come out!’ And he did. A dead man came out of a tomb. Because Jesus told him to.
The list goes on and on. The elements of the earth obeyed Jesus’ very command without hesitation. Last week on the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, we were reminded that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are one…separate, yet one. God the Father who spoke creation into existence by His very Word, is the same Son who speaks with equal power and conviction!
So I say to you: when Jesus held up the piece of bread and said the words: ‘This is my body...’ did that bread have a choice? When He held up the cup and said, ‘This is my blood...’ what else could that wine do but obey his command? Yes, it looks, tastes, and acts like bread and wine, but, by the power of Jesus’ word, it becomes His flesh and blood.