Sermon LXXXII.
[CXXXII. Ben.]
On the words of the Gospel, John vi. 55,“For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is
drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh,” etc.
1. As we heard when the Holy Gospel was being read, the Lord Jesus Christ exhorted
us by the promise of eternal life to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood. Ye that heard these
words, have not all as yet understood them. For those of you who have been baptized and
the faithful do know what He meant. But those among you who are yet called Catechumens,
or Hearers, could be hearers, when it was being read, could they be understanders too? Ac-
cordingly our discourse is directed to both. Let them who already eat the Flesh of the Lord
and drink His Blood, think What it is they eat and drink, lest, as the Apostle says, “They eat
and drink judgment to themselves.”3948 But they who do not yet eat and drink, let them
hasten when invited to such a Banquet. Throughout these days the teachers feed you. Christ
daily feedeth you, That His Table is ever ordered before you. What is the reason. O Hearers,
that ye see the Table, and come not to the Banquet? And peradventure, just now when the
Gospel was being read, ye said in your hearts, “We are thinking what it is that He saith, ‘My
Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed.’ 3949 How is the Flesh of the Lord eaten,
and the Blood of the Lord drunk? We are thinking what He saith.” Who hath closed it against
thee, that thou dost not know this? There is a veil over it; but if thou wilt, the veil shall be
taken away. Come to the profession,3950 and thou hast resolved the difficulty. For what the
Lord Jesus said, the faithful know well already. But thou art called a Catechumen, art called
a Hearer, and art deaf. For the ears of the booty thou hast open, seeing that thou hearest the
words which were spoken; but the ears of the heart thou hast still closed, seeing thou under-
standest not what was spoken. I plead,3951 I do not discuss it. Lo, Easter3952 is at hand, give
in thy name for baptism. If the festivity arouse thee not, let the very curiosity induce thee:
that thou mayest know the meaning of, Whoso eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood
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dwelleth in Me, and I in him.”3953 That thou mayest know with me what is meant, “Knock,
and it shall be opened unto thee:”3954 and as I say to thee, “Knock, and it shall be opened
unto thee,” so do I too knock, open thou to me. When I speak aloud to the ears, I knock at
the breast.
3948 1 Cor. xi. 29.
3949 John vi. 55.
3950 Baptismal profession.
3951 Disputo non dissero.
3952 Pascha.
3953 John vi. 56.
3954 Matt. vii. 7.
On the words of the Gospel, John vi. 55,’For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh,’ etc.
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On the words of the Gospel, John vi. 55,’For my flesh is meat indeed, and…