Again, if it's His own flesh He's referring to, then how doesn't that render the sacrifice on the Cross as worthless as well? You can't have it both ways. And notice, that after pronouncing the radical dogma of the Real Presence that many disciples left and Jesus didn't go chasing after them saying, "Wait, wait, I was speaking metaphorically!"
Jesus left Himself with us in the Eucharist. It's how we are joined to him on a daily basis. I'm sure He's saddened at how many have rejected this most marvelous gift.
Its difficult to understand i admit. However when He said the flesh profits nothing he was talking about His flesh.
Hebrews 11:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”[c] 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”[d] 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
9 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the
Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a
new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘
And they shall all be taught by God.
1 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us
His flesh to eat?”
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed,[h] and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
63 It is the
Spirit who gives life;
the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.