510 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XIV.
beforehim. For who isthatBreadofthe kingdom ofGod
Jclm6. but He who says,I am thelivingbreadwhich came down
from heaven? Open notthy mouth,but thyheart.
BEDE. But because some receivethisbread by faith
merely,as ifby smelling,but itssweetnessthey loatheto
reallytouch with theirmouths,our Lord by the following
parablecondemnsthedulnessofthosemen tobeunworthyof
theheavenlybanquet. For itfollows,But IIesaiduntohim,
A certainman made a greatsupper,and bademany. CYRIL.
Thisman representsGod theFatherjustasimagesareformed
to givethe resemblanceof power. For as oftenas God
wishesto declareHis avengingpower,He iscalledby the
names of bear,leopard,lion,and othersof the same kind;
but when He wishestoexpressmercy,by thename of man.
The Maker of allthings,therefore,and Fatherof Glory,
or the Lord,preparedthe greatsupperwhich was finished
inChrist.
For intheselattertimes,and asitwere thesettingofour
world,the Son of God has shone upon us,and enduring
deathforoursakes,hasgivenus Hisown bodytoeat.Hence
alsothelamb was sacrificedin theeveningaccordingto the
Mosaic law. Rightlythenwas the banquetwhichwas pre-
Greg. paredin Christcalleda supper.GREG. Or He made a great
in°Evan6sUPPer,ashavingpreparedforusthefullenjoymentofeternal
sweetness.He bademany,butfew came,becausesometimes
theywho themselvesare subjectto Him by faith,by their
livesopposeHis eterualbanquet. And thisisgenerallythe
differencebetween the delightsof the body and the soul,
thatfleshlydelightswhen not possessedprovokea longing
desireforthem,but when possessedand devoured,theeater
soonturnsfromsatietytoloathing; spiritualdelights,ou the
otherhand,when not possessedareloathed,when possessed
themore desired.But heavenlymercyrecallsthosedespised
delightsto the eyesof our memory, and in orderthatwe
shoulddriveaway our disgust,bidsus tothe feast.Hence
itfollows,And lIe sentHis servant,fyc.CYRIL.That ser
vant who was sentisChristHimself,who beingby nature
God and the trueSon of God, emptiedHimself,and took
upon Him theformofa servant.But He was sentatsupper
time. For notinthebeginningdidtheWord takeupon Him