There are many paralells [sp.?] between the life of the Christ and the life of the Budah. Joseph Campbell writes about this.

When the rituals have deep meaning they are transforming. For some it is symbolic. I think the transformation is in the blood. The food, wine and bread, is for the body and is transformed into the Christ spirit.

If the state of mind is not in harmony, best to avoid the ritual. It would do more harm than good.

The idea is to grow in grace, and truth and to have within the same quality of heart and mind that was in Christ Jesus.

Some think this spirit did not exist until the coming of Jesus. I think it is something that has always been and always will be. It is the alpha and the omega.