IN a figure of speech Christ Jesus spoke of "the bread which cometh down from heaven." This expression, with slight variations, may be found several times in the sixth chapter of John's Gospel. As it was the Master's life purpose to show humanity by precept and practice how to live more spiritually, his figures of speech were meant to awaken human thought to greater spirituality. It is in this way that we should regard them. Mistaking the symbol for substance, one is likely to miss the Master's aim. In such a mental attitude, one is almost sure to lose sight of the spiritual import of the Scriptures. The desire to understand the significance of the symbol is a legitimate one. The true method consists in becoming more spiritually-minded, as Christian Science enables one to do, rather than to cling to the symbol, expecting in this way to become more spiritual.
Many instances could be cited of an insufficiently enlightened thought following this latter method. The way in which "bread" had been interpreted is one of them. When a material sense stole into the exposition of the Nazarene's teachings, with the ensuing misapprehension of his sayings and acts, human thought became puzzled about the significance of the bread, notably as used at Jesus' last supper with his disciples. Material sense, in trying to explain the meaning of the Master's words, "Take, eat; this is my body," has evoked such weird and intricate imaginings as found in the doctrine of transubstantiation. According to an authoritative dictionary, this doctrine holds the theory that the whole substance of the bread of the Eucharist undergoes a supposed change into the body of Jesus, while only the appearance of the bread remains. The foregoing is one of several theories concerning the alleged mutations of the bread in that which is called the communion.
How refreshing, after considering these dreary vagaries of human hypotheses, to read in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy the chapter "Atonement and Eucharist"! Therein the author states with an unerring simplicity, which is the hallmark of spirituality (p. 35): "Our Eucharist is spiritual communion with the one God. Our bread, 'which cometh down from heaven,' is Truth." In this explanation one finds no need for letting material bread undergo some mysterious mutations. The only necessity is to understand Truth, or God, in order to be able really to commune in spiritual oneness with Him. In other words, it consists in becoming ourselves more spiritually-minded, so that the symbol is not needed, by letting Truth spontaneously unfold itself.
