Mysteries as Hard Teachings by Ciby Abraham Philadelphia

John 6:47-59

I am glad that I was born into the Orthodox faith. There was a time that I could not say this, especially in my youth when I thought I knew everything there was to know about God, the Bible and the Church. I was very skeptical of the Church’s teachings, practices, and Biblical interpretations. My biggest gripe was that the Church could not and would not give me some straight forward answers on some key issues. Things like prayers for the departed, intercession with the saints and the Theotokos, and the Eucharist were explained not in clear cut terms but many times, as mysteries. I couldn’t accept this. Now, however, I believe it is the only faith that truly addresses the core needs and frailties of every person and that the Church preaches the fullness of Christ.

It’s hard to accept that some of the most important questions we have can’t be answered in clear yes/no terms. This week’s gospel reading is a clear example of this.

Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

Jesus said to them,“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. (John6:47-59)

Reading this passage, we can see that the Jews had a hard time accepting the answers that Christ gave. Christ said this soon after feeding the five thousand. Those surrounding him were looking to have their bellies filled once more. Reading their hearts, Christ told them of the true bread which causes them to never hunger which is His body. His answer not only confused but also repulsed them. Many turned away from him because they found it to be “a hard teaching”.

So how does one go about understanding this passage? In Christian history, especially in the West, there were various theories to try and explain this passage, especially in very rationalistic terms. Some tried to explain it as symbol; some explained it in true physical (“real”) transformation. The Orthodox, however, simply says that it’s a mystery. This was one of those answers that really turned me off when I was younger, but now it’s something I’ve grown to appreciate.

In our worldview, what is real and what is mystical are not mutually exclusive. Our reality is only expressed in terms of how it manifests God to us. This is why we say the Eucharist is the genuine body and blood of Christ, because these mysteries that Christ established bring to us the manifestation of God in Christ. It can be very confusing to try and understand such things, but the simple explanation I use for myself is as follows: God created us both with spirit and body, so we are both spiritual and physical beings. It’s easy to think of spiritual healing because it deals with what goes on in my mind and heart but what about my body? If Christ is to sanctify me as a person, then my physical body must also be addressed. So Christ mustbe present in the Eucharist, because if it’s just a symbol, then there’s really nothing truly addressing the needs of my physical being. It’s not the most articulate of explanations, but it is sufficient for me. It also truly brings to life the idea that Christ is in me and I in Him.

These concepts are not easily explained and in my opinion, they shouldn’t be. Things such as beauty, art, music, and love could never be simply explained in simple mathematical formulas or scientific theories. These truths have transcendent meanings that can’t be fully contained in words. If this is true, how much less can God!

In my opinion, there is no other faith gives us the answers we truly seek and paradoxically leaves us in mystery. I’m glad I’m an Orthodox Christian.

Author Information

Name: Ciby Abraham
Area: Philadelphia

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