[armydoc]

Since we also have the example of the Good Thief, who did not take the Eucharist, we understand that in John 6 Jesus is talking of ordinary means of salvation, but extraordinary means exist also. It also follows logically from His sovereignty. This is literal reading of the entire New Testament; it is not an unthinking robotic reading.

Interesting that Catholics seize on "this is My Body"; no context of scripture required, don't you believe His words, He meant what He said, etc. etc. Context only becomes useful for explaining away inconvenient words that were just as plainly stated.

BTW, The Good Thief is a great example, isn't he? No baptism. No good works. No Eucharist. Just repentance and faith. The real "ordinary means" of salvation.

[annalex]

The Catholic understanding of “This is my body” as well as the discourse on the Eucharist in John 6 is not repudiated by any context. Regarding the extraordinary means of salvation, this is still literal reading of John 6; the example of the Good Thief, which is also read literally, merely explains that Jesus speaks of ordinary means in John 6.

The Good Thief fulfilled every requirement of the Church, by the way. His suffering provided for baptism of blood; his good works were defense of the innocent Jesus, he repented of his sin by acknowledging the justice of his punishment and his communion with Christ was face to face.