This is My Body ... This is My Blood

What did our Lord mean when he said, ‘This is my body … this is my blood’? Was he speaking literally or figuratively?

It is not my intention to prove conclusively that the figurative interpretation is correct. The issue is complex and it deserves serious consideration of the relevant biblical texts. I hope that this short letter will shed some light on this question and encourage you to study the subject further.

It is quite obvious, one may argue, that Jesus is not speaking figuratively. He emphatically said, ‘This is my body.’ He did not say, ‘This represents my body,’ or ‘This is a sign of my body.’ Similarly he said, ‘This is my blood’, and not, ‘This is a symbol of my blood’.

A Catholic website states, ‘The grammatical construction of the phrases, This is My Body, and This is My Blood, does not admit of a figurative or symbolic meaning. When the verb to be is used, the antecedent must always be identical with the consequent, i.e., This must be identical with My Body.’

Is it true that the verb ‘to be’ must always be so understood?

I don’t think so. At least not in our ordinary speech. We often use the verb ‘to be’ in a plain and literal sense. I can introduce my wife to a friend by saying, ‘This is my wife.’ The context demands a literal meaning. But if I show him a photograph, I can say exactly the same words, ‘This is my wife,’ but now the context demands a figurative meaning, namely, ‘This is a representation of my wife.’

This is also the language of Scripture. There are many instances where the context demands a figurative meaning. For instance, when Joseph explains Pharaoh’s dreams, he says, ‘The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years’ (Gen 41:26-27). He simply means that the cows and the ears of wheat symbolize years, even though he actually said that the cows and ears are years.

Similarly, when Jesus explained the meaning of the parable of the sower, he said, ‘The seed is the word of God’ (Luke 8:11). Jesus said that the seed is the word, but we know that he means that the seed represents the word of God.

Again, the apostle John explains his vision by saying that, ‘the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches’ (Rev 1:20). Stars are not literally angels, and lampstands are not literally churches, but the stars correspond to angels and the lampstands symbolize the churches.

Finally the apostle Paul compares the old and new covenant to Hagar and Sarah, ‘These women are two covenants’ (Gal 4:24), he wrote, though of course we understand that the two women represent the covenants.

The grammatical construction of these verses is similar to Jesus’ words in the Eucharist. We have not proven that they must be understood figuratively, but at least we have shown that such an interpretation is possible. So if Jesus meant to say that the bread and wine are signs of his body and his blood, he could have expressed that truth by saying, ‘This is my body … this is my blood.’

A Gift to God

I gave the first gift to my mother when I was in kindergarten. It was a small porcelain vase, and it is still displayed in my parent’s house after so many years.

Once my mum handed me some money to give to my teacher at nursery school. A few days later the teacher distributed parcels to all the children in class, and she told us to give them to our mothers.

Mum was happy with my gift. I now realize, of course, that she herself had paid for the present that I gave her.

Sometimes we speak of ‘giving’ our time, praise or service to God. But can I really give anything to the Creator and Lord of all? What can I give him other than that which he himself has given me in the first place? Even as the Scriptures say, ‘Who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things’ (Romans 11:35, 36). We are completely dependent on God for our existence, life and every breath we take. ‘In him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28).

God is unlike us. He exists in and of himself, without beginning or end, and he is not in need of anyone or anything. He does not need angels or humans. He is perfectly happy in himself as he was eternally blessed before he made the universe. We cannot add anything to him who possesses all things. ‘Nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything’ (Acts 17:25).

There was a time when I thought that I could earn my salvation by living a good life, praying, attending church, and work hard enough to deserve his favour. After all that’s how things go, let’s say, my employer is obliged to pay me for the work and service I give him.

But how can I even imagine that Almighty God could ever be indebted to his tiny creature? I needed to hear the Bible’s gentle rebuke, ‘Who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’

If I’m perfectly obedient to the Lord, well, that is what I ought to do. That is my duty. Nothing special about that. Moreover I have often disobeyed his will; so if anything, I justly deserve his disapproval and punishment.

Amazingly, instead he gave me what I do not merit - God freely forgave my sins and received me in his loving arms. When he found me unworthy and guilty, he gave me the best Gift of all, his Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for me.

What gift can I give to God? I can offer nothing but the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for all his goodness and kindness towards me – for creating and keeping me alive, for my parents, friends, and for my wife and children who give me so much joy, but most of all, I thank him forever and ever for Jesus, my wonderful Saviour.

I realize that my gift – my own heart – he himself has purchased with the blood of his Son. Yet just as my mother rejoiced with ‘my’ little present, God also rejoices with the love of his children.

The Epic Movie

My son, who is almost 4 years, had an unusual request. He wanted to see the future!

John was fascinated to watch a video of his mother during pregnancy and of himself as a newborn infant. At the end he asked, ‘Mama see DVD John big!’ He must have reasoned that since it is possible to see the past, why can’t we see the future as well? That’s interesting, but he can’t see it just yet since we are still working on that movie.

Futuristic movies are interesting, but of course, they are mere fiction. However there is one that is true and factual. God, the author of history who knows the end from the beginning, gave us a photo album with scenes from the past and others that are yet to come.

In the Bible we have a beautiful picture of the visit of the eternal Son of God to our world when he was born of the blessed virgin. Other scenes depict his moral beauty, amazing love and divine power, especially in his acts of kindness and mighty miracles. There are also dreadful scenes depicting the hatred and rejection of Christ by his own people, and of him in agony and bleeding to death on the cross. However the last photo in this album is not the grave - for Christ was resurrected and returned to the Father.

These events have already occured, but the Scriptures also foretell the future, revealing how Jesus is coming again, no longer in poverty, humility and obscurity, but in brilliant glory and the power of the King of kings and Lord of Lords. Then every eye shall see him, every knee shall bow before him, and every creature will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

When Christ returns, the dead will be raised, and he will judge the world, condemning the evil to hell, and rewarding those who love and trust in him. On that momentous day, Jesus will fulfill his wonderful promise to his people, ‘I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also’ (John 14:3).

What part shall we play in that movie? That video is being filmed right now. Our role in that epic story depends on our current response to the Son of God. To those who receive him in his first advent, who entrust themselves to his care and follow him, Jesus will also receive them at his second coming. But those who ignore him and who are ashamed of him today, he will also reject on that day. 

The disciples of Christ have a great desire to watch the final and best episode of the drama of redemption. We want to see the DVD of the future, for we are ‘waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:13).

My sincere prayers and wishes of joy and peace to all the readers of this letter.

Pilgrims in Assis

(Gospel e- letter - November 2011)

On the 27th October the Vatican organized a ‘Day of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world’ to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic gathering in Assisi, Italy, in 1987.

This year’s event was led by Pope Benedict and included representatives from several Christian denominations, non-Christian religions, including Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, as well as non-religious people. The event included talks, a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Saint Francis and prayers.

God’s people are called in Scripture to pray for peace. Moreover Christians have a message of hope and peace to proclaim to the world, for we are ambassadors of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why should there be so much trouble and injustice in the world? The Bible tells us plainly. Sin is the underlying cause of war and strife between nations, in our communities, in our families and even in our hearts. Sin is the root of all human misery for it separates us from God. There can be no genuine peace between us as long as we remain at enmity with the Creator. Even as Cardinal Koch rightly noted, “Let us remember that there is no peace without justice; that there is no justice without forgiveness”.

But where can we find forgiveness, justice and peace? Left to its own resources, humanity is hopelessly lost. Sinners do not naturally seek the Light; they rather run in the opposite direction into deeper darkness. Through its wisdom the world will never find God. Religion, fasting, prayers and meditations cannot make up for sin.

Our only hope is Jesus Christ. Only his blood cleanses the soul from sin. ‘No one,’ he said, ‘comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6). He came down from heaven for this very purpose, that sinners may be reconciled to God by his death on the cross. There is no other way, even as the Apostle Peter said, ‘There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12).

Sadly that was not the message given in Assisi. Instead the representatives of the world religions heard the Pope cry, ‘In the name of God, may every religion bring upon the earth justice and peace, forgiveness and life, love.’

Alas! Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, good will, religion, science or philosophy cannot save. Christ alone saves. He alone is the Saviour of the world. To seek forgiveness in human religion is like searching for water in a dry well.

We Christians are already satisfied by the living water that Jesus gave us. We cannot pretend to be searching for the truth we already possess, nor can we keep it to ourselves. The clear proclamation of Jesus as the only Saviour is the unique and absolutely essential contribution that Christians should make to address the desperate plight of humanity.

True, there could be no peace without justice, and no justice without forgiveness. But these – forgiveness, justice and peace – are found in Jesus Christ alone, and in no-one and nothing else.

Peace and Truth

At the meeting in Assisi in October 2011, the delegates representing the various Christain denominations and non-Christian religions were invited to pray according to their religious traditions.

Can it be argued that the organization of an inter-faith prayer meeting is in itself a tacit approval of the non-Christian religions, or at least, a recognition that they have come some way along the ‘pilgrimage of truth’?

Yet many of them are ignorant or reject Christ's claims to be the Son of God, the only way to the Father, the only Saviour of the world.

Perhaps some of the Catholic and Christian delegates are not themselves so sure about the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ. They are shy to proclaim Christ as the only way. They hope that world peace can be achieved through good will, dialogue and everyone praying to their own gods!

Such efforts are bound to fail miserably.

Jesus Christ did not come to bring that sort of peace. ‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword’ (Matthew 10:34). He preached God’s message faithfully without sacrificing truth for the sake of hollow unity and illusory peace.

Jesus demands and deserves our supreme loyalty and love. He would rather have a man turn against his father, or a daughter set against her own mother, if that is necessary to follow him. Many of us Christians have paid that painful price for our Saviour; and we know what it means to suffer for Christ’s sake. We are not ashamed of his gospel and we care very little about political correctness and the world’s approval.

The message that brought us peace with God is the only message that we desire to give to the world. Some people will receive it, others will reject it – whatever the response, the gospel remains the only hope to a troubled and lost world.

Upon This Rock

Gospel e- Letter - October 2011



Most of us, both Catholics and evangelicals, have read Jesus’ declaration in Matthew 16: ‘You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.’

As a Catholic you may wonder why many evangelical Christians still won’t believe that the church is built upon the apostle Peter. They are being obstinate, you may think, for Jesus’ words are plain and easy to understand.

But is this verse really that simple? The controversy centres on the exact meaning of ‘this rock’? Is it a reference to Peter, as Catholics insist, or to Peter’s confession (‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’), as many evangelicals say?

Those of us who were raised in the Catholic Church had been trained since childhood to understand the rock as a reference to the apostle Peter because his name means ‘a rock’.

This interpretation is absolutely necessary, though by no means sufficient, for the Catholic argument for the Papacy. If it cannot be established conclusively that ‘this rock’ must be the apostle Peter, rather than somebody or something else, then this scripture affords no proof to the claims of supreme and universal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome.

Consider for a moment the possibility that ‘this rock’ is a reference to Peter’s confession about Jesus rather than the apostle personally. The context is all about the identity of Jesus. ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ The Jews did not perceive the divine glory of their Messiah, mistaking him for one of the prophets, but Peter, speaking for the apostolic group, and inspired by God the Father, made that glorious confession: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’. It makes sense that the Church should be built on the foundational truth that Jesus is the Divine Son of God who was sent from heaven for our salvation.

As a Catholic you may be interested to know that this is not a novel or an improbable interpretation. There was no unanimous consent among the Fathers in the early church about its meaning; they expressed a variety of opinions, some equating the rock with Peter while others with his confession or with Christ.

For instance St Augustine wrote: ‘For on this very account the Lord said, On this rock will I build my Church, because Peter had said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. On this rock, therefore, He said, which you have confessed, I will build my Church. For the Rock was Christ; and on this foundation was Peter himself also built. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus’ (Augustine, Tractate 124, 5). So Augustine taught that the rock was Peter’s confession, that is, Christ himself.

Even more interesting is the plain admission by the modern Roman Catholic Church that the rock is Peter’s confession. ‘Moved by the grace of the Holy Spirit and drawn by the Father, we believe in Jesus and confess: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ On the rock of this faith confessed by St Peter, Christ built his Church’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 424).

That is exactly how evangelical Christians understand this verse: Christ built his Church on the rock of the faith confessed by Peter, namely, the truth that he is the Messiah, the Son of God. As a Catholic you should at least admit that this interpretation is not incorrect.

As for evangelicals, let us remember that we are built on Peter in the sense that we too embrace the revelation which he confessed. We also firmly believe that Jesus is the Son of God. If we depart from this truth, as some liberal ‘Christians’ have done, we can no longer claim to be part of the Church founded by the Lord Jesus.