[hosepipe]

[.. This particular passage is there for us to know that the Eucharist is not a metaphore but rather is "food indeed": something we physically eat while it really is Jesus' body. ..]

So then.. you don't "like" metaphors and believe them to contain not MORE information bur LESS.. That metaphors are not a richer more detailed example of discourse but an example of unnecessary information?.. And Jesus who used metaphor almost exclusively.. was not very clear in his speaking.. You know; GOD, that has a public speaking problem..

One wonders what "other" of Jesus spiritual metaphors have you missed... and counted them literal..

[Mad Dawg]

After I finish this hamburger, I'd like to suggest that it might be useful to do a "compare and contrast" on IHS's metaphors, parables, and the like. I mean, I'm in annalex's camp, of course, but the "Real" "Substance" of IHS's flesh to me is such an mind-bogglingly overwhelming concept that I sort of stammer to think of it's being in any way "less".

And while I'm not especially interested in kumbaya as a life-style, it seems to me the Eucharist is so rich a thing that there must be acres of areas in which we can find agreement. There's a lot in Calvin to love, IMHO.

[annalex]

In this particular instance, John 6, the scripture records Jesus explaining that He is not speaking in metaphores; St. Paul likewise explain the Eucharist as real presence of Christ in 1 Cor 11:29. At other times the metaphorical character of His speech is clear from the context. If you have specific question about any passage, please ask me, and I will try to give you what the Church teaches as accurately as I can.