God has given us bread and wine, but not so that we would be distracted by the bread and wine. Remember that we dwell in a universe created by the Word of God who both was God and was with God. The Word of God is the exact representation of the image and nature of God, and yet the Son is not identical to the Father. Yet the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one triune God.
This means that Christ is the ultimate metaphor, He is the Word. He represents the Father perfectly, and yet He is not the Father. And He is God, and He is with God. This mysteries are certainly that—mysteries—but they are also invitations to understand everything else about our faith as mysterious.
Note that I said mysterious, not contradictory, or irrational. Our God-given reason is not offended by metaphor—rather, it is sanctified reason which understands metaphor.
Countless disputes have arisen among Christians over this meal, and this by itself is a good indication that we are not paying attention to the meal rightly. Christ did not say, “Take and dispute.” He did not say, “Take, and philosophize.” He said we were to take and eat, take and drink. The apostle tells us that we are to do so while discerning the body.
You are the body of Christ. Discern the body. The body here is fragmented and torn, so that you (also the body) would not be. Christ was crucified on the cross so that we would not crucify or pillory one another. This is the new commandment—and yet it is not new—love one another.
When this lesson is learned, the most basic of all lessons, we may then ask (if we are reverent) some other questions. But unless we are loving one another, fervently, from the heart, we cannot be trusted with any other questions. And so, if you are struggling to love any of your brothers or sisters on Tuesdays or Fridays, humble yourself now, and learn to love them here, now.