Gospel in Art: My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink

Allegory of the Eucharist, by Alexander Coosemans, 1654 © Musée de Tessé, Le Mans, France

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 28 April 2023
John 6:52-59

The Jews started arguing with one another: 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' they said. Jesus replied:

'I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.

Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.

For my flesh is real food

and my blood is real drink.

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.

As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me. This is the bread come down from heaven; not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.' He taught this doctrine at Capernaum, in the synagogue.

Reflection on the painting

This painting of the Allegory of the Eucharist, by Flemish Baroque artist Alexander Coosemans, features a juxtaposition of still life symbolism :

grapes produce the wine, referring to Christ and his Blood
the stalks of wheat refer to his Body and the Eucharistic Bread
the two cornucopia symbolise the generosity of Creation
the pomegranate symbolises eternal life and procreation, for the fruit has many seeds
the peaches represent virtue and honour, and, just as a peach matures slowly, so do our spiritual lives mature slowly
the pear halves are symbolic of marital faith
the single rose with its many petals represents the wounds of Christ
But centre-stage are the Sacred Host, set with an embossed image of the crucifixion, and the chalice holding the precious blood. The words of our Gospel reading, "my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink" are beautifully depicted here.

Our Gospel reading today starts with 'The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"' The argument shows that our minds cannot always understand God, but our hearts can. Jesus in his replies tells us to move from the mind to the heart. He is not telling us just to simply accept his teachings, but he is inviting us to be fully drawn into his Life and that of his Father. He invites us to be all consumed by God... through the Eucharist.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-6-52-59-2023/