The accepted dichotomy between material flesh and symbolism may be shortsighted.
The dichotomy is not “accepted” — for 1600 years all Christians believed the Eucharist to be the True Presence of Christ - the Body of Christ. Even today the majority of Christians believe that
Then why did Jesus say seven individual statements this Sunday in the Gospel about his Body and Blood.
He was driving home the message—and he let those who wanted to leave go.
Seven statements — seven is the sacred number in the Bible.