Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/352

 Eucharist, and  hence  it  is  communicated  to  us  in  the form of  bread. This bread  enables  us  to  proceed  on  our journey with  alacrity,  to  overcome  its  toils  and  labors,  and to resist  our  spiritual  enemies  that  attempt  to  impede  us on  our  passage. The bread,  which  the  angel  gave  to Elias,  was  a  lively  figure  of  this  bread. "He walked  in the  strength  of  that  food  forty  days  and  forty  nights,  unto the  mount  of  God,  Horeb." (3 Kings  xix.  8.)

III. Though this  food  be  in  itself  most  exquisite  and strengthening, nevertheless,  it  does  not  produce  its  good effects except  in  a  well  regulated  and  healthy  stomach. If it be  foul,  this  food  overcharges  and  weakens  it  the  more. " Therefore," says  St.  Paul,  "are  there  many  infirm  and weak  among  you,'!  because  they  receive  Christ's  body and  blood  unworthily.  Prepare  therefore  your  soul and  purify  it  from  all  disorderly  affection,  and  then  this heavenly  food  will  enable  you  to  run  on  cheerfully  in the  way  of  God's  commandments,  according  to  the  oracle of  the  Psalmist,  "  I  have  run  the  way  of  Thy  commandments  when  Thou  didst  enlarge  my  heart."  (Ps. cxviii.  32.)

I. Whilst  Christ  was  walking  by  the  sea  of  Tiberias, with multitudes  around  Him,  "a  certain  scribe  came and  said  to  Him,  Master,  I  will  follow  Thee  whithersoever Thou  shalt  go." (Matt. viii.  19.)  This  was  in  appearance a  liberal  oblation  of  himself;  but  Christ  did not accept  of  him. The holy  Fathers  are  of  opinion  that this man  wished  to  follow  Christ  only  for  gain,  because he thought  in  consequence  of  His  miracles  and  the  concourse of  the  people,  He  must  collect  considerable  sums