THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO IS SIMPLY THAT …. a scenario …. no theologian is writing this, other then that of the homespun type. having shared these thoughts with several catholic priests and several protestant ministers ( all of Whom are trusted more then myself) and having them find “no harm in exploring the thoughts ” the thoughts will be shared with you … but remember this is by NO MEANS a Doctrine in any Church known of, NOT A TEACHING, and only food for thought:
It is commonly accepted that in the writings within The Holy Bible in the Gospel of John ( Chapter 6: Verses 25-71 ). The members of the community of the time found this concept of Jesus Giving His own Body as Food and His Own Blood as Drink to be a despicable idea, impossible to do, and to much of a shocking leap of faith, for most of the prideful generation of the time to accept.
Posed here will be, a scenario by which, it is Not despicable, and with God all things are possible, and (although NOT for the faint of heart) far less shocking.
1). Starting at the beginning with Adam and Eve … and Their Sin. ( Genius 3: Verses 1-24 )
1a). Common tradition tells that they ate an apple and the sin was that of “disobedience” although the Bible mentions no apple, and regardless of “what” they ate it was disobedient.
1b). We are told that they ate of fruit of the tree in the Midst or Center or Middle of the Garden.. (depending of which translation of Scripture one follows)
1c). With the consuming of “this Fruit” it was foretold by God (and challenged by the serpent or devil) that they would, die “the death”. (Generally excepted as the Spiritual death of sin) This being a commandment that apparently got watered down by Eves’ conscience in the statement to the serpent when interjecting “lest perhaps”. OR
1d). We can rest assured that God KNEW the outcome of His Humans using their free will to go against the ONE COMMAND He put in place which was necessary to ratify that, humans were choosing to be subject to Him and in His Loving Communion with His greatest creation, the “lest perhaps” was a beckoning by God of “please don’t ever do this thing, for your own good” and not a statement to Eve and Adam that He (God) was unsure of the outcome.
To which the serpents’ con job twisted this command into a challenge of receiving a desirable knowledge of Good and Evil (causing a knowledge it most assuredly did) This actually being an undesirable knowledge and unnecessary in a paradise where God Reigns Supreme and cares for all things. Even to the point of caring that the free will of man be safeguarded by specific instruction that should cause man to always choose to believe in Gods Word, even when from a finite view it seems impossible.
2). That the first thing they did after this consuming of the fruit was cover their newly found “nakedness”. with an “apron” of fig leaves. (Aprons as we know them generally cover only our lower extremities) Then after their (mottled) confession and Gods Rebuke, God Himself gave them “garment of skins” to cover themselves with. (also, much of the punishments have to do with birthing and seemingly sexual desires)
This all could seem a little much overkill in a “personal sense” for the consumption of an Apple or Apricot or any “fruit” from a outside influence Tree growth .
3). What if the “tree” spoken of was the “tree” of Eve herself, the first tree of LIFE. (who “was the mother of all the living”) and the Fruit was that of human cells .. and the sin that of voluntary consumption of same. CANNIBALISM?
3a). And that by doing this, they brought Sin (Spiritual Death) as well as Earthly human death into the world. Possibility something to the effect of the worlds first abortion?
OK Enough with the shocking thought ….let’s get to the beautiful side of this scenario ….
1). Wouldn’t it be just like our God to go right ahead and undo the first evil work of the devil. And do it is such a fashion that confounds the prideful of the New Covenant from generation to generation.
2). Often Jesus is referred to (by theologians over the centuries) as “The New Adam” (or as most English translations of Scripture refer to Jesus as “the last Adam”) and the same respected theologians refer to Mary His mother as the New Eve ..(although Mary is never mentioned by name as either “the new” nor “the last” Eve Scripturally), Many have assimilated that, the reference to “garments of skin” may be a reference to the plan of salvation when considering Verse 15 and that mankind would be protected, (to a certain extent if their freewill would allow it) from the serpent who would be forever be worrying (laying in wait for his head to be crushed) and the “clothing” could easily be considered as that of covering all mankind’s’ sin by God Himself taking on that garment of flesh.
2a). The comparison of Mary to Eve has been drawn, over the last 2000 years, by Her association WITH Her Son and The Conception of Jesus BY The Holy Ghost within Her. (and is called “tradition”), As well as references TO “a woman” and “the woman” within the Bible. ( In Genesis and again in Revelations of John) These references point to the actions that WOULD BE taken and (throughout time) HAVE BEEN taken, depicting the downfall of the actions perpetrated BY the devil when he lead Eve into becoming a sinner.
2b). The interpretation of “The Woman” spoken of in Genesis and Johns Revelations is staunchly contested (by modern teachers) as NOT being a reference to Mary Mother of Jesus… but instead is said to be a metaphor for “Prayer” – “Wisdom” – “Piety” or some other Virtue (depending on “who” is doing the interpretation) OR said to be a reference to The Holy Spirit or a Holy Power or Principality, although non of these other interpretations are “mentioned by name” either, other than to be referred to as “the or “a” “woman”. So it would seem that Our Lord was designing these verses in Scripture, that each will “seek” to “make up their own” mind as to what authority we will believe is capable of delivering an accurate interpretation of what He has said.
3). Here we have (in the book of John) Jesus Point Blank telling these guys to shut up …listen … accept .. and believe in Him., and most are saying something to the effect of: “No we are Holier then that”.
3a). All along He is explaining how He, His Father and the Hypostatic Union They have with The Holy Ghost, are going to make even, what the closed minded listeners believe is, the most hideous act of cannibalism (which in this scenario is also the fall from grace of mankind ) into the most purified act of faith and worship.
Furthermore:
The Eucharist truly wouldn’t be a cannibalism by the earthly definition of the word, but only have the outward appearance of it.
IF:
1). Jesus had human DNA while walking this earth. (human DNA would be a prerequisite of consuming a flesh or blood of another human on this earth and the presumption of the people of the time was that they were to consume His Human Body)
BUT:
2). Now having returned to heaven and being in His Glorified Human-Godly State. (and maybe as early as the transfiguration ) and with a Non Earthly “DNA” (so to speak) available to work with.
AND.
3). What He is Giving us at each Eucharistic Opportunity is not a Earthly Human flesh, although still the same Jesus that once walked this earth, but truly His Living Glorified Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. .
It is NOT cannibalism ..(so even in this scenario we need to stop thinking of it as such). in that dna (as we know it) very likely no longer exists in a GLORIFIED human state WHICH WOULD BE THE STATE FROM WHICH OUR LORD IS NOW SENDING DOWN THE NEW MANNA FROM HEAVEN ………and that instead of “taking a life” TO NOURISH OURSELVES WITH (as in a cannibalism) it is He alone that is able to give or offer life .. in the utmost of both physical and spiritual means via this Holy Manifestation.../…Transubstantiation.
For with God all things are possible.