Unlike angels, humans are not purely spiritual beings. God designed us to consume food, express love, and gain knowledge through our bodies. Accordingly, the reception of divine life in one’s relation with God is no different.

It’s no coincidence, therefore, that man was originally offered grace through the physical fruit of the tree of life (Gn 2:9). And by virtue of the bodily sacrifice of His Son, God established 7 physical channels of grace called sacraments to unite with His people of the New Covenant. As chief sacrament, the hanging fruit of the redemptive tree of the cross becomes the new Covenant fruit of the tree of life, in the Eucharist.

Before sin, and after redemption, God feeds man spiritual life through physical means.