Eucharist -- Is it Cannibalism? Part 1.
Some
people judge that receiving Holy Communion at Mass is cannibalism, the eating
human flesh. An internet search of “Cannibalism and Eucharist” comes up with
answers which range from inadequate to bad (e.g., it’s not cannibalism if the
person first consents to your eating him; it’s not cannibalism to eat living
flesh, only dead flesh; it’s not cannibalism in an event of necessity to
preserve another’s life).
Rather
than rationalizations, let’s go to the heart of it. How did Jesus answer when
people laid the same judgment upon His words?
We
find the discussion in John chapter 6). Jesus is speaking to a collection of
people in Capernaum (Jn 6:59), in Galilee.
Here
is the “cannibalism” objection: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
(Jn 6:52).
Said
by the disputing Judeans present. (The word often now translated, “Jews,” is actually,
“Judeans,” i.e., those who had come from Judea in southern Israel, or were
associated with Jerusalem and the Temple, like Pharisees or scribes,)
Their
question is not, “What did this man say?” They know clearly what He said. It is
a “how” question: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” We should add:
“!!!” because it’s not a question of mechanics – it’s a “How absurd!”
statement. Eating human flesh is both offensive and absurd, deserving of scorn and
disgust by both Israelites and Gentiles.
Had
Jesus been making an earthly, fleshly, statement of eating his physical,
material, earthly flesh, the flesh that walked about Galilee – before his
resurrection and ascension – yes, we would agree. Cannibalism is always
disgusting!
But
let’s be clear. They did understand Jesus was talking about something real,
something physical, and the act of real human eating. Not symbolic. Not purely
spiritual. Something real.
But
in their off-the-cuff reaction – because they hadn’t been listening to Jesus! –
they showed that they didn’t understand what He was saying.
The
next day, people chase Jesus and His disciples down, and that is when Jesus
begins His teaching:
“Do
not labor for the food which perishes,” – earthly human food, the physical,
earthly bread and fish they had the previous day – “but for the food which [1]
endures to eternal life, which [2] the Son of man will give to you; for [3] on
Him has God the Father set His seal” (Jn 6:27). Three elements: food for
eternal life; Son of man gives; from God the Father.
These
three are huge clues to what Jesus meant by “food,” But the people, including
the Judeans, were not listening. They also overlooked that He had said it is
not “the food which perishes.” Yes, easier to react, speculate, and rationalize
– than to really listen (or to read).
Back
to John 6. The people next ask how to do what God wants, and Jesus answers to
“believe in Him whom He has sent” (Jn 6:28-29). (Good advice. To listen to Him
would be a good start also!) They understand Jesus is speaking about Himself, and
so ask for a sign as proof that God sent Him. They want a sign like the Manna
that Moses had given to the children of Israel when wandering in the wilderness
after the Exodus (Jn 6:30-31; cf., Exodus 16).
Well, Jesus is going to give them what they ask for – and way more! (To be continued.)
Dibby Allan Green
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.
Dibby Allan Green has a BA in Religious Studies (Westmont College, 1978) and MA in Theology (Augustine Institute, 2019), is a lay Catholic hermit, and a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.