Jesus words, “this is my body” should be taken symbolically because it falls within a long list of symbolic statements Christ said: “I am the bread,” (John 6:41), “I am the vine,” (John 15:5), “I am the door,” (John 10:7,9), “I am the good shepherd,”(John 10:11,12), “You are the world the salt, (Matthew 5:13), “You are the light of the world the salt, (Matthew 5:14)
Was “except you eat my flesh, and drink my blood” symbolic?
If so, why did he let those who understood him literally and objected leave on this misapprehension?
The truth of transubstantiation had already been presented to the Apostles who remained, they would have had no confusion on His meaning at the time.