In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Nicodemus, a Jewish leader asks Jesus for some clarification about what it means to be "born from above."
Taking Jesus literally, Nicodemus asks, "How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"
Jesus had to correct him because Nicodemus thought Jesus was speaking literally, when he was speaking figuratively. One being "born from above" is not the same as reentering one's mother physically.
Interestingly, this is one of those passages that actually affirms the Eucharist, where bread and wine are transformed into the actual body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus.
How, you ask?
Jesus told Nicodemus that he was not speaking literally about being born again, that someone cannot return to his mother's womb.
And, when the apostles in Chapter 6, supposed that Jesus must be speaking figuratively when he told them he was giving them "his flesh," he didn't hesitate to let the literal interpretation stand and correct them, by affirming:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
No confusion there. He was not speaking figuratively. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave them his Body and Blood, just as he does at every Catholic Mass as he instructed us to do.
The direct line to the apostles (from Peter to the current Pope), creates a chain to continue the Last Supper to this day. It also signifies that Jesus was speaking literally about us consuming his Body and Blood in the Eucharist.
A solid reading of scripture reveals when Jesus spoke figuratively and when he spoke literally, leaving no confusion about him giving himself to us in the Eucharist at every Catholic Mass.
Happy Easter!
Janet Cassidy
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