Flesh of Jesus

lbailey5

I found “Introduction to Sacramental Theology” very informative as Father Jose Granados delves into sacramental theological understanding, emphasizing the everlasting presence of Christ’s flesh within the sacramental life of the Church. Foundational is his quote, “Having reached the summit of his journey, Jesus interpreted his work from the perspective of the offering of bread and wine, which he identified with his body and blood given up for mankind. In this way he shed light on the meaning of every human life: it is before all else life in the flesh and, more precisely, life situated in the world, open to brethren, grateful to the creator.”1 Granados asserts that the Son of God, having assumed human flesh, never abandoned it. This statement, a foundational principle for the Church Fathers, encapsulates the enduring bond between Christ’s humanity and the human family, evoking a sense of awe and wonder at the divine mystery. Granados tells us, “The seven sacraments are anchored in Jesus, who instituted them; this is an article of faith.”2

At the heart of Granados’ assertion lies the theological truth of the Incarnation, the Logos taking on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. This sacred act signifies an irrevocable union between the eternal and the temporal, the holy and the human. Granados emphasizes that Jesus’ flesh, inseparably united to his divine nature, was not discarded after his earthly ministry but ascended into heaven. This ascended flesh, seated at the right hand of God, represents not only Jesus’ humanity but also encompasses the entirety of human existence, our flesh, shared by all members of the human family. Granados makes the point, “Jesus instituted the Eucharistic rite at the precise moment of his life, to which historical criticism bears witness in its main features. This rite is framed in the Jewish Passover meal; Jesus performs an act of remembrance that gathers up within it the history of the people of Israel from the creation of the world. All of this shows us that the institution of this sacrament is not reduced to an isolated moment: it expands its hours to embrace the whole journey of Jesus, from Father to the Father.”3 Granados extends this understanding further by asserting that Jesus did not abandon our collective humanity either. In the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, Jesus’ flesh becomes present and continues interacting with human flesh. Granados explains, “This finding invites us to go back from baptism to the Eucharist, for the latter contains the body of Jesus, surrendered to the Father for many in order to reestablish communion.”4 This presence of Christ is not merely symbolic but substantial and transformative, offering hope and inspiration amid human experiences from love to suffering. Through these sacraments, we can find the strength to transform our lives and renew our world.

By declaring the ongoing presence of Christ’s flesh in the sacraments, Granados asks us to recognize the sacramental economy (“the communication of the fruits of Christ’s death and resurrection through the sacraments”5) as a profound expression of the Incarnation’s ongoing reality. In celebrating the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, believers encounter the living Christ, who sanctifies and elevates human experiences. This encounter occurs not in abstraction but within our human bodies, relationships, and the material world. We can quote Granados saying, “A sacrament, as the previous chapter showed us, goes beyond the limit of the celebration. For when the believer receives the character, his very person is assimilated to the sacrament and therefore so will his every act be.”6

Granados’ theological vision of the sacraments as encounters with the embodied Christ is particularly relevant today. One key for Granados, “This work accomplished by Christ in the rite, by the very form in which it is structured (opus operatum), opens his action to all mankind through the generations, and constitutes the communal framework for Jesus to accomplish the gift of himself (opus operantis).”7  In an era marked by secularism, skepticism, and detachment from traditional religious practices, Granados’ emphasis on the sacramental encounter with Christ’s flesh resonates with the yearning for authentic human connection and transcendent meaning, offering hope in a world often characterized by fragmentation and alienation. Granados’ imagery offers a holistic vision of human existence, affirming the significance of bodily experiences and relationships. Our culture is often dominated by virtual interactions and immaterial communication through all our platforms. The sacraments provide a real encounter with the divine presence within the physicality of human life. These facts can be hard to resonate with contemporary individuals unless they seek deeper connections and a sense of grounding in our frenetic pace, which causes alienation. In addition, Granados’ theological perspective underscores the sacraments as transformative encounters that transcend individual subjectivity. Our society continues to be dominated by individualism and relativism; the sacramental encounter with Christ’s flesh offers a communal and objective reality grounded in the divine. Through the flesh of Christ, believers participate in a shared experience of grace and communion, transcending personal boundaries and fostering solidarity within the human family. I really appreciate that the Catholic Church challenges the prevailing cultural norms and offers a counter-cultural vision of communal solidarity and standards while reminding us that we are not alone in our journey. Granados makes this point when he says, “The link between the sacraments and human action is strengthened when these are associated not only with faith, hope, and charity but also with the cardinal virtues.”8 This prescription for life is what all human beings are looking for, whether they realize it or not. Humans experience anxiety and spiritual hunger; the sacraments offer a meaningful manifestation of divine presence and a pathway to encounter the sacred within our ordinary lives. Through the Eucharist, believers partake in the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, finding hope and redemption.

In conclusion, Father Jose Granados’ theological reflection on the perpetual presence of Christ’s flesh in the sacraments is a clear vision of sacramental theology rooted in the Catholic Church’s belief in the Incarnation. By emphasizing the sacraments as encounters with the embodied Christ within the meaningful realities of human existence, Granados gives a pathway to answer the yearnings of modern people for authentic connection, communal solidarity, and transcendent meaning through the flesh of Jesus through participation in the Eucharist. In a culture characterized by secularism and fragmentation, Granados’ theological outlook offers a meaningful invitation to encounter the living Christ in all the sacraments, where divine grace intersects with humans, transforming lives and renewing the world. This is our Christian hope.9

  1. Granados, Jose, Introduction to Sacramental Theology, 2016, (136) ↩︎
  2. Granados, Jose, Introduction to Sacramental Theology, 2016, (109) ↩︎
  3. Granados, Jose, Introduction to Sacramental Theology, 2016, (110) ↩︎
  4. Granados, Jose, Introduction to Sacramental Theology, 2016, (289) ↩︎
  5. CCC 1076 ↩︎
  6. Granados, Jose, Introduction to Sacramental Theology, 2016, (295 ↩︎
  7. Granados, Jose, Introduction to Sacramental Theology, 2016, (307) ↩︎
  8. Granados, Jose, Introduction to Sacramental Theology, 2016, (319) ↩︎
  9. https://sites.nd.edu/lee-bailey/2024/04/18/flesh-of-jesus/ ↩︎