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John 6:23-53
Throughout these verses, the Greek text uses the word "phago" nine times. "Phago" literally means "to eat" or "physically consume." The disciples take issue with Jesus' literal usage of "eat." So what does Jesus do?

John 6:54-58
He uses an even more literal verb, translated as "trogo," which means to gnaw or chew or crunch. He increases the literalness and drives his message home. Jesus will literally give us His flesh and blood to eat

Matt. 24:38; John 13:18
The word "phago" is used here too, and it means to literally gnaw or chew meat. "Phago" is never used metaphorically in Greek. There is not one verse in Scripture where "phago" is used symbolically, and yet this must be your argument if you are going to deny the Catholic understanding of Jesus' words.

John 6:55
Jesus says "For My Flesh is food indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed." This phrase can only be understood as being responsive to those who do not believe that Jesus' flesh is food indeed, and His blood is drink indeed. Further, Jesus uses the word which is translated as "sarx." "Sarx" means flesh (not "soma" which means body).

John 6:55
- further, the phrases "real" food and "real" drink use the word "alethes." "Alethes" means "really" or "truly," and would only be used if there were doubts concerning the reality of Jesus' flesh and blood as being food and drink. Thus, Jesus is emphasizing the miracle of His body and blood being actual food and drink

John 1:13,14; 3:6; 8:15; 17:2; Matt. 16:17; 19:5; 24:22; 26:41; Mark 10:8; 13:20; 14:38; Luke 3:6; 24:39
These are other examples in Scripture where "sarx" means flesh. It is always literal.

John 1:29
Jesus is the "lamb of God"

Ex 12: 8,46
The Paschal Lamb must be eaten.

1 Cor 5:7
Jesus is the Paschal Lamb who has been sacrificed.

1 Cor 10:16 11:23-29
Eating the Eucharist unworthily is to be guilty of his body and blood.

"Is it appropriate to worship the Eucharist? It's only appropriate to worship God. And the Eucharist is the sacramental presence of Christ our God, present whole and entire in His flesh and blood, His soul and divinity, i.e. the whole Risen Christ mysteriously present to us in the appearances of bread and wine." -Leon Kuriakos Pereira OP, is a deacon and a Dominican friar of the English Province