John 6:53 — "eat my flesh and drink my blood" is symbolic, not a basis for the Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist

Mike reads John 6:53-63 and makes two points against a literal/Eucharistic reading: (1) Jesus speaks symbolically throughout John 6 ("I am the bread of life," manna from heaven, etc.); no one took these as literal. (2) Jesus himself clarifies in v. 63: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." This self-clarification makes a literal reading of flesh-eating impossible. Mike also notes that Abraham had eternal life without ever literally eating Christ's flesh, which he received by faith (Hebrews 11). He suggests a future full video on the Eucharist.