Catholic Typology
The Eucharist the new Fruit of the Tree of Life
Revelation 22:1-2 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Fruit of the Tree of Life | The Eucharist | |
Wood | from the tree of life (Gen 3:22) | Jesus's body sacrificed on a wooden cross (Mt 26:26-28) |
Brings eternal life | eating the fruit (Gen 3:22) | eating the bread of eternal life (Jn 6:51) |
Reconciliation with God | eating this fruit would not reconcile fallen man back to God's friendship (Gen 3:22-24) | brought forgiveness of sins so reconciled us to God (Mt 26:28) |
Only to be eaten in a state of grace | before the fall Adam and Eve could eat the fruit from the tree of life (Gen 2:16) but after were prevented (Gen 3:22-24) | eating it unworthily brings judgement on them (1 Cor 11:27-29) |
Wood: the fruit from the tree of life (Gen 3:22); the Eucharist is Jesus's body sacrificed on a wooden cross (Mt 26:26-28)
Brings eternal life: eating the fruit (Gen 3:22); eating the Eucharist, the bread of eternal life (Jn 6:51)
Reconciliation with God: eating the fruit would not reconcile fallen man back to God's friendship (Gen 3:22-24); Jesus's blood shed on the cross brought forgiveness of sins and so reconciled us to God (Mt 26:28)
Only to be eaten in a state of grace: before the fall Adam and Eve could eat the fruit from the tree of life (Gen 2:16) but after were prevented (Gen 3:22-24); anyone receiving the Eucharist unworthily brings judgement on them (1 Cor 11:27-29)