In John 4:31-34 and Mt 16:5-12 Jesus speaks about food in a symbolic or figurative way. The disciples interpret Him to mean real food. Note how Jesus shows them in plain, unmistakable language that He is only speaking figuratively.
Compare this with Jn 6:51. Jesus says we must eat His flesh in order to have life. In Jn 6:52, the Jews interpret Him literally. Jesus then repeats again and again (verses 53-56) – in the clearest possible language – that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have eternal life. Take special note of verse 55: “my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink” – this is not the language of symbolism.
In verse 51 Jesus tells us plainly that the bread is his own flesh, which we must eat in order to have eternal life. When Jesus explains that the bread of life is literally His flesh, we must accept His clear words.
Note that the unbelieving disciples leave Jesus after verse 63 – they would not have left at this point if Jesus had assured them that He was only speaking symbolically.
At the Last Supper in the Gospel of Matthew 22:19 we read – “Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.’”
Jesus didn’t say, “this is like my body” or “this is a symbol of my body” or “just pretend this is my body.” He said, “This is my body.”
Jesus, the Truth, has spoken and the voice of Truth cannot deceive.
There is a profound change that occurs within the Mass at the moment the Priest speaks the words of consecration and we call that change Transubstantiation.
Transubstantiation is when the entire substance of the bread and wine changes into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ.
Now, there are all kinds of different ways in which things change.
For instance – Some things change appearance. Like a green apple that grows to be a full ripe, red apple.
Certain things undergo a partial change of substance. Take for example, oil that burns and changes into smoke. The appearances change also.
So we have things that change appearance, things that undergo a partial change of substance, and in the Eucharist there is a complete change of substance.
And the appearances of bread and wine would also change if God didn’t prevent this by a miracle – a miracle that allows us to eat the flesh and blood of Christ without difficulty.
The Son of God, true God from true God, shed his divine splendour: "he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men; and being found in human form he humbled himself..., even unto death, death on a cross" (cf. Phil 2: 6ff.)
And as if this were not enough he comes to us under the appearance of bread and wine – bread, the food of a poor man made of wheat which comes from the very ground we walk on. What humility! What love!
In the Eucharist, Jesus communicates all that He is to us.
He communicates all of His beauty and all of His love.
We are given to eat – not a “thing like” gift (Body and Blood?)
No, rather – there is a person-to-person exchange, a coming of the one into the other,
The Living Lord gives Himself to us, enters into us, and invites us to surrender ourselves to Him so that the Apostles words come true:
It is no longer I, who live, but Christ who lives in me! (Gal 2:20)[1]
[1] Fr. Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham, Beginning Apologetics, (Farmington, NM: San Juan Catholic Seminars, 1993-1998), 7-9.