On Flesh

The term “flesh” brings me back to CCD, so I think I’ll write about transubstantiation – the change of the Eucharist into Jesus’ body in Catholic theology.

This was always the toughest part of church for me. It’s extremely hard to believe that those little discs, those little styrofoam-tasting wafers with the tiny crosses on them, are transformed into the flesh of Christ. I understand the biblical underpinnings – the Eucharist is meant to recall the Last Supper, when Jesus broke bread with his apostles. “Take this, and eat it. This is my body.”

And yet, why the literal interpretation? It’s a pretty clear symbol for sacrifice. What’s the purpose in pretending we’re all consuming our savior’s flesh, like some sort of cannibalistic cult?

My first goal would be to do some research into how communion wafers are actually made. Where do the ingredients come from? Who cooks them? Then I can look into the religious aspect – at what point do they become flesh? I’d include anecdotes from my experience going through CCD, from First Communion to Confirmation.

That’s about as far as I got. I don’t have a thesis here, or a state of mind I’d like to reach. I’m hoping something will come to me as I research.

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