John 6:54-55 "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life..."

"Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink" (John 6:54-55).
 

Question:

It has always intrigued me. If Jesus was the word made flesh, I can't help thinking that eating his body is eating, chewing on, reflecting on and digesting his message. My catholic upbringing has taught that it is the actual body and blood; and what of the Eucharistic miracles where the host bleeds? There are 21st-century examples of this—little Audrey Santo in Massachusetts for example. I still think there is more meaning than actual a literal translation. Thank you for your insight.

Comment:

Anytime—particularly in the Gospel of John—that the Pharisees and his own followers fail to understand something Jesus is saying, the reason is always the same. They assume they are listening to the words of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish teacher of his time. In fact, he is speaking as Jesus Christ—and the difference is very important. He has become so completely expressive of his Christ nature that it is one with his human identity. It is as the Christ that he makes the great "I am" statements throughout the Gospel (“I am the way, the truth and the life,” “I am the good shepherd,” etc.). And it is as the Christ that he is describing the secret of eternal life. Metaphysically his flesh represents his Christ essence, and his blood represents his Christ energy. It is by “eating” of the Christ—fully understanding, accepting and internalizing the universal spiritual principle of our Oneness with God—that we can embrace the truth that we are spiritual beings—expressions of the eternal energy that is God. Further, it is as a result of that Oneness that we are creative beings, creating our life experiences through the power of our thoughts. So it is not unreasonable that we could create a bleeding heart experience, or bleeding communion wafer. We may create it out of love, to affirm our acceptance of our spiritual truth. Or we may create it out of fear, as an expression of our doubts and sense of isolation.   Blessings!   Rev. Ed