There are many reasons that believers in the Real Presence give as to why we should take Jesus’ words “Eat my flesh, drink my blood” (John 6:54) literally. Perhaps the most persuasive is the fact that both his disciples and his Jewish audience understood him literally, and Jesus didn’t correct them.
In verse 52, the Jews respond, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” In verse 60, his disciples respond, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” You would think that if his audience were mistaken, and given the gravity of this teaching, Jesus would have corrected their literal understanding. Since Jesus didn’t correct their literal understanding, we can conclude that they didn’t get it wrong.
Do we accept that through consuming Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist that mutual abiding of Christ in us and our communion with Him (John 15:5 and John 15:6)?
Do we believe that the flesh of Jesus “is of no avail” (John 6:63)? Does this verse contrast human reason’s ability to comprehend revealed truths while the Spirit’s ability to enlighten our minds?