There is much debate
in Christian circles as to whether or not Jesus meant that we were to literally
eat His body and drink His blood. The Catholic Church, from the time of the
Apostles, says, “Yes, that is what He meant.” I think the commentary below does
a good job of using the original words Christ used, of explaining their
meaning, and of pointing out how Jesus left no confusion as to what He meant.
He said He was the Bread of Life, and He meant it.
John 6:47-58
47
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in
the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so
that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven;
if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I
will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
52 Then the Jews began to
argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to
eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of
Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks
My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
55 For My flesh is true food
and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in
Me, and I in him. 57 As
the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me,
he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not
as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”
John 6:51-52- then
Jesus says that the bread He is referring to is His flesh. The Jews take Him
literally and immediately question such a teaching. How can this man give us
His flesh to eat?
John 6:53 - 58 - Jesus does not
correct their literal interpretation. Instead, Jesus eliminates any
metaphorical interpretations by swearing an oath and being even more literal
about eating His flesh. In fact, Jesus says four times we must eat His flesh and
drink His blood. Catholics thus believe that Jesus makes present His body and
blood in the sacrifice of the Mass.
John 6:23-53 -
however, a symbolic interpretation is not plausible. Throughout these verses,
the Greek text uses the word "phago" nine times. "Phago"
literally means "to eat" or "physically consume." … the
disciples take issue with Jesus' literal usage of "eat." So Jesus
does what?
John 6:54, 56, 57, 58 - He uses an
even more literal verb, translated as "trogo," which means to gnaw or
chew or crunch. He increases the literalness and drives his message home. Jesus
will literally give us His flesh and blood to eat. The word “trogo” is only
used two other times in the New Testament (in Matt. 24:38 and John 13:18) and
it always means to literally gnaw or chew meat. While “phago” might also have a
spiritual application, "trogo" is never used metaphorically in Greek.
… Moreover, the Jews already knew Jesus was speaking literally even before
Jesus used the word “trogo” when they said “How can this man give us His flesh
to eat?” (John 6:52).
John 6:55 - to
clarify further, Jesus says "For My Flesh is food indeed, and My Blood is
drink indeed." This phrase can only be understood as being responsive to
those who do not believe that Jesus' flesh is food indeed, and His blood is
drink indeed. Further, Jesus uses the word which is translated as
"sarx." "Sarx" means flesh (not "soma" which
means body). See, for example, John 1:13,14; 3:6; 8:15; 17:2; Matt. 16:17;
19:5; 24:22; 26:41; Mark 10:8; 13:20; 14:38; and Luke 3:6; 24:39 which provides
other examples in Scripture where "sarx" means flesh. It is always
literal.
John 6:55 - further, the phrases
"real" food and "real" drink use the word
"alethes." "Alethes" means "really" or
"truly," and would only be used if there were doubts concerning the
reality of Jesus' flesh and blood as being food and drink. Thus, Jesus is
emphasizing the miracle of His body and blood being actual food and drink. http://scripturecatholic.com/the_eucharist.html#eucharist-IIa
Prayer: Anima Christi
Soul of
Christ, sanctify me;
Body of Christ, save me;
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be;
O good Jesus, listen to me;
In Thy wounds I wish to hide;
Ne'er to be parted from Thy side;
Guard me, should the foe assail me;
Call me when my life shall fail me;
Bid me come to Thee above,
With Thy saints to sing Thy love,
World without end. Amen.
Body of Christ, save me;
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be;
O good Jesus, listen to me;
In Thy wounds I wish to hide;
Ne'er to be parted from Thy side;
Guard me, should the foe assail me;
Call me when my life shall fail me;
Bid me come to Thee above,
With Thy saints to sing Thy love,
World without end. Amen.
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