But I'll bite. Give me the text where Jesus says "This is not My Body." Or says "This is a metaphor --- a simile --- a parody --- irony --- sorta --- kinda --- a literary device --- a figure of speech ---just kidding --- Semitic Hyperbole --- a vision --- a ghost --- hallucination --- a hoax --- April Fools! " -- or anything else that would deny the part where he says "This is My Body." Bonus question: try that with St. Paul.
Not meant to be funny. Proof for the Roman Catholic understanding is not there unless one practices eisegesis.
Jesus often used hyperbole in His dealings with people.
Jesus told people to gouge out their eye or cut their hand off if it caused them to sin.
Jesus told the young ruler to sell his possessions and follow Him.
I don't see any maimed Roman Catholics or any RCs who've sold all of their stuff.
Roman Catholics want to take Jn 6:52-57 as literal yet ignore these statements by Christ.
In John 6 they take 6:52-57 as literal yet not this passage from the same chapter:
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
Here Roman Catholics do not apply the literal interpretation to the passage.
Why?
But all of this ignores the simple message of not only this passage but of John, Matthew, Mark, Luke and the NT.
Belief in Him for salvation.
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36“But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:35-40 NASB
Jesus continues this theme:
. 46“Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 6:46-47
He continues the theme of belief but now clarifies the meaning of what He's been saying:
63“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 6:63-65
The disciples who remained with Him understood it was about belief in Him that lead to salvation....not eating/drinking flesh and blood.
67So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
69“We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 6:67-69.
It is the consistent message of the NT....believe in Him for salvation.
In no other passage where the Gospel is mentioned is it ever said a person must eat/drink the flesh/blood of Jesus for salvation.
It is always about coming to Christ through belief in Him.
If it is not about belief in Him for salvation, then Jesus lied to Nicodemos.
Here, like we've told you many times before.
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Also, the thing that tells us it must be a metaphor and to not be taken literally is the the interpretation of taking it literally contradicts the rest of the body of revealed Scripture, all those prohibitions against eating blood.