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