Today’s Gospel continues the discourse on the “bread of heaven,” from last week. It begins with an outrageous statement: the bread to eat is “his own flesh.” The reaction of those present is understandable and justified. They discuss among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” They understand that he no longer refers only to the spiritual assimilation of God’s revelation, but also to a “concrete eating,” not metaphorical.

Jesus said to the crowds, I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.
 
The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?