Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture and Early Church Teachings on the Eucharist
Proverbs 9:1-6 | Psalm 34:2-7 | Ephesians 5:15-20 | John 6: 51-58
“If it's just a symbol, to hell with it.” - Flannery O'Connor
Rooted in Sacred Scripture and affirmed by early Church Fathers like St. Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 108 AD), who passionately described the Eucharist as the "flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ" (Letter to the Ephesians, 20:2), we explore the Scriptural, theological, and historical foundations that affirm the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Scripture, particularly John 6:51-58 and Matthew 26:26-28, unequivocally presents the Eucharistic elements as Christ's body and blood through His literal words—"This is my body" and "This is my blood." Early Church Fathers routinely affirmed this understanding. St. Justin Martyr (c. 100-165 AD) elaborated in his First Apology, portraying bread and wine as transformed into Christ's body and blood, spiritually nourishing believers (First Apology, 66). St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130-202 AD) defended Christ's real presence against Gnostic interpretations, affirming the Eucharistic elements as truly Christ's body and blood (Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapter 18). St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386 AD) detailed the Eucharist in his Catechetical Lectures, emphasizing its role in imparting forgiveness of sins and eternal life (Catechetical Lectures, 22:1-4).
In John 6, the shift from the Greek verb "phagein" (to eat) to "trogein" (to chew or to gnaw) occurs during Jesus' discourse on the Bread of Life. In the discourse, Jesus begins by contrasting the manna eaten by the Israelites in the wilderness with the true bread from heaven, which He identifies as Himself. He first uses the word "phago" (to eat) to describe this act in general terms. “Your ancestors ate (phago) the manna…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats (phago) of this bread will live forever” (John 6:49-51). The Jews are shocked at this statement, and instead of clarifying that it was only a metaphor, Jesus intensifies His language to demonstrate the reality of what He is saying. In verse 54, the word “eat” shifts from “phago” (to eat) to “trogo” (to chew/gnaw), emphasizing the reality of consuming his flesh and blood, “those who eat (trogo) my flesh and drink my blood…the one who eats (trogo) this bread will live forever” (John 6:54-58).
Reflecting on the significance of Jesus' use of the Greek word "trogein" in John 6:54, this vivid language deepens appreciation of the Eucharist as a tangible encounter with Christ's sacrifice, affirming its reality beyond merely symbolism and its visceral significance in early Christian belief. The Eucharist thus stands as the sacramental heart of Christian worship, where believers partake in the true body and blood of Christ, uniting them intimately with their Savior and nourishing their souls unto eternal life.
Join us for our final installment where we will celebrate a teaching Mass, demonstrating how all these theological, scriptural, and historical insights converge in our Liturgy.