Bread of Life or bread of death?

By Fr Antoine de Padoue Chonang

It may seem paradoxical to ask such a question, and moreover in a Catholic newspaper, about Jesus who is explicitly defined as the Bread of Life. Before he left this world he gave us the Eucharist - commonly called "Communion" - as a guarantee of our salvation and sign of his continuous presence among us "till the end of time".

The ambivalence of this sacrament, source of life and death, is emphasized in this outright statement by the Apostle Paul: "Carefully examine yourself before eating this bread and drinking this cup, if not, you will be eating and drinking your own condemnation." This is very clear. The question then arises: is the aim of the Eucharist to give life or death? It should be said a priori that even the statements of Jesus concerning himself do not make things easier. We were expecting the Prince of Peace, the Builder of Unity par excellence but this is what he says: "I have not come to give peace, but war…I have brought division: because of me, man shall rise against woman, father against son, daughter against mother, etc…" Old Simon had a premonition during the presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple when he said: "He shall be the cause of the rise and fall of many." Yet, Jesus came to give life and not death. He did not come to judge and condemn the world but to save it. However, if he is the active cause of salvation he can also be the passive cause of death. Too philosophical you may say. Let's take a simple example: what is your favourite dish? Is it ndole? mbongo tchobi? kpem without salt? nkui? mbol? achu? or kilishi?… It doesn't matter! Let's assume that your favourite dish is carefully prepared and served in a dish covered with mud and having all sorts of microbes. You eat it and afterwards you fall ill and you die. What must have killed you? Certainly not the good meal but the context in which you ate it. That is why it is necessary to take appropriate measures before approaching the Holy Table. This means sincere confession and an ardent desire to be in "communion" (i.e. as its name indicates to be deeply united) with Christ, in order to become "through Him, with Him and in Him" bread that is shared for all to have life and have it in abundance.