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He did not say that this physically becomes my body and blood

This is exactly what He said:

53 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 54 Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. 55 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. 56 For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed.

He was still alive.

So? the entire discourse is about a future gift (John 6:52).

It was symbolic.

If it were symbolic, the disciples would not have left, as they objected to the physical eating of His flesh (John 6:53).

it is a memorial supper

It is both a memorial supper and a real presence of Christ in the body ("do this in rememberance of me" but also "this is my body"; also see 1 Cor 11 and especially v. 29 where a reference to the real presence is made).

we have our works being mixed in with grace

Yes we do. The Bible tells us so.

So? the entire discourse is about a future gift (John 6:52).
First, John 6:52 doesn't signify a future gift. Second, that is a big "so." Jesus is saying, in the present, this is my body. Not this will be my body. But this IS my body.

If it were symbolic, the disciples would not have left, as they objected to the physical eating of His flesh (John 6:53).
If it weren't symbolic he wouldn't have been speaking of a future gift. They weren't physically eating Christ's flesh and drinking his blood physically when Jesus said "This is..." It was symbolic then. It is symbolic now.

Gee, Annalex. Here is a million dollars for you to keep. Whoever takes the million dollars gets to keep it. Of course, I don't have a million dollars, but I'm speaking of some future gift which I haven't given yet and telling you here in the present, here it is. SYMBOLIC, just as Passover was.

it is a memorial supper

It is both a memorial supper and a real presence of Christ in the body ("do this in rememberance of me" but also "this is my body"; also see 1 Cor 11 and especially v. 29 where a reference to the real presence is made).
Christ offered one sacrifice for sin and there remains no more. To say otherwise is to destroy the gospel.

we have our works being mixed in with grace

Yes we do. The Bible tells us so.
The Bible says that salvation is NOT OF WORKS. You show your faith by your works. But works do not save you.

Let me ask you a question. If I were a Catholic but did not participate in mass, ever. I didn't like the thought of eating Christ's body and drinking his blood. What would become of my soul when I died?