Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/175

 the usual  effects  of  light;  to  open  your  eyes  to  your  own defects; to  enable  you  to  discover  real  from  fictitious good. Take care  you  do  not  close  your  eyes  against  this light, by  putting  impediments  to  the  grace  of  the  sacrament. Holy Job  says  of  sinners:  "They  have  been  rebellious  to  the  light;  they  have  not  known  his  ways." (Job xxiv.  13.)  See  that  you  be  not  rebellious,  but  dilate your heart  to  receive  the  influence  of  this  holy  light; say with  the  Prophet,  "Thou  lightest  my  lamp,  O  Lord; O  my  God,  enlighten  my  darkness." (Ps. xvii.  29.)

I. After  Christ  had  washed  the  disciples'  feet,  He  returned to  the  table,  and,  intending  to  leave  mankind  a singular  memorial  of  His  love  for  them,  "  took  bread  " into His  holy  hands,  to  show  them  that  His  memorial was the  gift  of  His  liberality. " Thou  openest  Thy  hand* and  fillest  with  Thy  blessing  every  living  creature." (Ps. cxliv. 16.)  Then  lifting  up  His  eyes  to  heaven,  to  show us whence  His  bread  came,  He  gave  thanks  to  His eternal Father  for  so  great  a  blessing  bestowed  upon  His followers by  His  means. He then  blessed  it,  and  changed it into  His  own  body. Do you  also  give  thanks  to  the eternal Father  for  being  made  a  partaker  of  this  same divine bread;  and  entreat  Him  that  by  the  means  of  this spiritual food  He  would  transform  you  into  another  man.

II. The Apostles  were  certainly  astonished  when  they learned that  Christ  intended  to  feed  them  on  His  own body and  blood. Their minds  were,  however,  illuminated with  light  from  above,  and  they  believed  everything possible  to  God. Learn, you,  also  to  captivate  your understanding to  the  obedience  of  faith. Observe with