Page:Sermons for all the Sundays in the year.djvu/243

 of this sacrament, when he said to the apostles: ” With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you." (Luke xxii. 15.) St. Laurence Justinian says that these words proceeded from the enamoured heart of Jesus Christ, who, by such tender expressions, wished to show us the ardent love with which he loved us.  ” This is the voice of the most burning charity.  ” Flagrantissimæ charitatis est vox hæc." And, to induce us to receive him frequently in the holy communion, he promises eternal life that is, the kingdom of heaven to those who eat his flesh. ” He that eateth this bread shall live for ever." (John vi. 59.) On the other hand, it threatens to deprive us of his grace and of Paradise, if we neglect communion. ” Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you." (John vi. 54.) These promises and these threats all sprung from a burning desire to come to us in this sacrament. 5. And why does Jesus Christ so vehemently desire that we receive him in the holy communion? It is because he takes delight in being united with each of us. By the communion, Jesus is really united to our soul and to our body, and we are united to Jesus. "He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, abideth in me and I in him." (John vi. 57.) Thus, after communion, we are, says St. Chrysostom, one body and one flesh with Jesus Christ. ” Huic nos unimur, et facti summus unum corpus ut una caro." (Hom. lxviii. ad Pop. Ant.) Hence St. Laurence Justinian exclaims: "Oh! how wonderful is thy love, O Lord Jesus, who hast wished to incorporate us in such a manner with thy body, that we should have one heart and one soul inseparably united with thee." Thus, to every soul that receives the eucharist, the Lord says what he once said to his beloved servant Margaret of Ipres ” Behold, my daughter, the close union made between me and thee; love me, then, and let us remain for ever united in love: let us never more be separated." This union between us and Jesus Christ is, according to St. Chrysostom, the effect of the love which Jesus Christ bears us. ” Semetipsum nobis immiscuit, ut unum quid simus ardentur enim amantium hoc est. ” (Hom. lxi.) But, O Lord,