Awhile ago at church my four year old daughter Gwen asked me, "Mom, is it time to eat the body of Christ?". Ewwwww! It sounded so barbaric spoken that way. Adults don't usually refer to it so bluntly. We talk about it as receiving communion or the bread. And we can quickly translate to something symbolic, but children don't do that, so it must sound crazy to them. I also know that in John 6 Christ's talk of eating his flesh tripped up some of his followers and caused them to walk away.
So what of all this? Is it only symbolic? Some believe it actually becomes the body and blood of Christ. Should we soften how we talk about it so that it doesn't sound like we are being cannibals or should it make us uncomfortable? I keep meaning to spend some time reflecting on this because I think there is meaning to be had here. I thought maybe instead I would throw it out for feedback from others. Do any of you have any thoughts on this?
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OK...Diane, you want feedback? Here are my thoughts. I, also, have wondered about how we must seem to others talking about eating his body and drinking his blood. It is easy to just accept Christian theology and terminology without really thinking about it. I just think that since we just take the truths and never really come to terms with what they mean or sound like, when a time comes where we snap out of it and have to figure out what it really is saying, it is never quite as simple as just repeating the words or having the same philosophy as a book says we are to have. Probably am not making sense but I so could relate to your comments and I have so many other things I am thinking through right now about words that have just become words and am now thinking more deeply about them. Thanks for sharing. This is Patti C. I love to read what you write. You are very articulate and I love the way you think.
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Well, here's my two cents. I don't believe it actually becomes flesh and blood. I think it is symbolic of Christ's death. Jesus shed his blood, died on the cross, therefore we never have to sacrifice another animal for our sins. It's all been taken care of through Jesus' death on the cross. And we've been asked to remember this. We are to be thoughtful of this when we are taking the Lord's supper.
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