[Steelfish]

To agree with you, you will have to ignore the understanding of Christ’s very text in John 6:47-6:55, the understanding his disciples placed on his word that they made this a central act of their worship; the early Church fathers, and the long litany of saints, martyrs, stigmatists, and those who sifted through hundreds and hundred of fragments of papyrus, their discussions on these, the solemn acts of the Church leaders and a galaxy of historical scholars, theologians, and historians. What more, it undercuts the Divine Authority handed to Peter and his successor to teach ONE truth as the basis of ONE Church for ALL peoples until the end of time.

The rest is all kumbaya to each his own.

[ealgeone]

The catholic understanding on this is so far off base in the context of the New Testament. Context, not sacred tradition, not ECFs, is your key to understanding the Word.

How many times does Jesus use the word believe in John 6?

Who is He talking to in this passage?

Would Jesus violate the Law in commanding people to eat His flesh and blood?

What was the reply of the disciples when Jesus asked them if they wanted to go away also?

I take it you have sold all of your possessions in accordance with Luke 18:22.

[ealgeone]

What more, it undercuts the Divine Authority handed to Peter and his successor to teach ONE truth as the basis of ONE Church for ALL peoples until the end of time.

Yet, not once do we have record of Peter saying you had to eat the flesh and blood of Christ.

He preached repentance and faith....just like the NT.

[ealgeone]

Until the catholic can square away the roman catholic assertion of the Eucharist with Hebrews the catholic position remains a false teaching.

[Elsie]

What more, it undercuts the Divine Authority handed to Peter and his successor to teach ONE truth as the basis of ONE Church for ALL peoples until the end of time.

Then the BIBLE records the FACT that Peter did a DAMN poor job of it in the early church!