Scripture Study for

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Understanding the Word

By Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.

The reading from Deuteronomy shows that God’s graciousness is not to be  squandered. The people are told to remember the past in order to act in a certain  way in the present. Though the time of their sojourn in the wilderness is over,  there are still lessons that they must learn from it. Moses directs the people to  remember how God delivered them from bondage, guided them through the  wilderness, miraculously gave them water, and provided them with mysterious  food. The trials in the wilderness did not so much test their obedience to the  commandments as their total dependence on God. 

Paul’s discourse on the Eucharist not only identifies the symbolic potential of  the substances of bread and wine, but it also describes actions that are rich in  symbolism. It is by sharing the cup that is blessed that one participates in the  blood of Christ. Eating food with another establishes a bond of companionship,  a bond that includes mutual obligations. Paul further insists that breaking bread  together may form us into a community, but sharing eucharistic bread forms us  into the body of Christ. The acts of blessing the cup and breaking the bread have  profound significance for salvation and the life of the church. 

Jesus identifies his flesh as the bread of heaven, thus giving manna a new  meaning. His flesh and blood are the source of life for those who partake of them.  In other words, eternal life comes from feeding on Jesus, not simply from believing in him. He insists that it is not something that believers merely hope to enjoy  in the future. Rather, those who share in this meal already possess eternal life.  Furthermore, just as we and whatever we eat and drink become one, so Jesus and  those who feed on him form an intimate union. In a mutually intimate way, they  abide in him and he abides in them. Jesus does not merely visit them, but he  dwells with them permanently. 

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