VII About the manner of the gift, that is, why our Lord is given to us veiled in this Holy Sacrament
VII
About the manner of the gift, that is, why our Lord is given to us veiled in this Holy Sacrament
AS to this, three things are to be considered: A, our Lord gives us His Body veiled; B, He gives it veiled under the appearance of bread; C, He gives it veiled under the appearance of wheaten bread.
We will consider the first point, A, in this meditation and the next. The second point, B, will be considered in the ninth meditation, and the third point, C, in the tenth.
A. Because the sense of man is at a loss in this mystery, and wonders when it seems to be something else, there is a fourfold reason for this veiling of our Lord: (1) the unworthiness of the wicked; (2) the faith of the good; (3) moral instruction; (4) our weakness.
Points (1) and (2) will be considered in this meditation, and points (3) and (4) in the next.
(1) Our Lord must thus be veiled because of the unworthiness of the wicked; as the sun, or indeed any light, must be veiled from a weak eye. In this the mercy of our Saviour deals most gently with them; for if the wicked could see Him unveiled, and so received by the faithful, they would be scandalised by the very sight, and would perish wretchedly by a threefold destruction, namely: 1, by horror in the heart; 2, by detraction in the lips; 3, by spiritual death in the soul.
1. When our Lord told the disciples of this mystery, many of them went back and walked no more with Him, because they turned away from the words that He spoke about His Flesh. St. Ambrose says, ‘Perhaps you may say, How is it true blood? for you do not see the likeness of flesh. Listen to the words of Christ. When they heard that He would give them His Flesh to eat they went back. Only Peter said, To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. Lest, therefore, more might be scandalised, and lest any one should shrink back from this food, and that, on the other hand, the glory of the Redeemer may be more seen, you receive this Sacrament in a similitude, but you gain the glory and virtue of His true nature.’
2. When the Jews murmured against Him and strove among themselves, their sin was detraction. For this also it is right that He should be veiled.
3. Once God smote many for looking on the ark; but that ark signifies the Body of Christ. This Body must be veiled from the wicked, lest they should die spiritually for ever if they were to see it. In many works of God you should not be curious; for it is not needful for you that your eyes should look on things that are hidden.
(2) He is also veiled because of the faith of the good. This reason may be divided into three, which require Him to be thus veiled: 1, the reality of faith; 2, the healing of unbelief; 3, the merit of faith.
1. The nature of faith requires that the Body of Christ should be hidden when it is given to us. Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and, as St. Augustin says, ‘Faith is to believe what you do not see, or to trust words about a hidden thing which truly exists, though you cannot see it with your eyes. About the things that we see we have knowledge, and not faith.’
2. The healing of unbelief requires this veiling of our Lord, in order that a fitting manner of satisfaction may answer the guilt of unbelief. The unbelief of our first parents began from listening to the words of the devil, when he was persuading them to take food that had in it veiled death. Then their senses took a false delight in his words. So it is fitting that the faith of those to whom salvation is offered should begin from the words of the Redeemer, leading them to take food that has in it veiled life. It is also fitting that only by the hearing, from among our senses, we should know truly what that food is. Thus faith comes from hearing, and our hearing by the words of Christ. If you were to say of the Blessed Sacrament, ‘This is the substance of bread,’ or, ‘This is the substance of wine,’ nothing could be more untrue; but if you listen to the words of Jesus, ‘This is My Body,’ or, ‘This is My Blood,’ nothing can be truer: you are listening to God, who cannot lie. Thus the faithful soul is not deceived. The hands are the hands of Esau; we touch the accidents of bread and wine: but the voice is the voice of the true Jacob, the prince of the Israel of God.
3. The veiling of the Incarnate Word is necessary for the merit of faith. St. Gregory says, ‘Faith has no merit if human reason give us a convincing proof. Our Lord willed to give us His Body veiled, because it is great merit to trust His words rather than our own senses. They who have not seen, and yet have believed, are blessed.’
N. In this merit of faith there is a threefold fruit: a, the fulness of spiritual good; b, abundance of earthly good; c, overflowing of eternal good. The dew of Heaven in the blessing that Isaac gave Jacob is the grace of God; the fatness of the earth is our daily bread, and all that God chooses to give us; the abundance of corn and wine is joy in God’s presence for evermore.
The Voice of the Holy Ghost
About our hidden gift; It is good to hide the secret of a king. Tobias 12:7.
(1) The unworthiness of the wicked; 1. Shrinking back in heart; My Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. St. John 6:56.
2. Detraction in the mouth; The Jews, therefore, murmured at Him because He had said, I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven.… The Jews, therefore, strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His Flesh to eat? St. John 6:41, 53.
3. Death in the soul; Aaron and his sons shall go in, and they shall appoint every man his work, and shall divide the burdens that every man is to carry. Let not others, by any curiosity, see the things that are in the sanctuary before they be wrapped up, otherwise they shall die. Numb. 4:19, 20.
He slew of the men of Bethsames because they had seen the ark of the Lord; … and the people lamented because the Lord had smitten the people with a great slaughter. 1 Kings 6:19.
(2) The faith of the good; 1. The reality of faith; That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold, which is tried by the fire) may be found unto glory and praise and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ; whom having not seen you love; in whom also now, though you see Him not, you believe; and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified. 1 Pet. 1:7, 8.
2. The healing of unbelief; Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ. Rom. 10:17.
3. The merit of faith; Jesus saith to him, Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen and have believed. St. John 20:29.
N. God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and abundance of corn and wine. Gen. 27:28.
a. Spiritual good; He that believeth in Me, as the Scripture saith, Out of His belly shall flow rivers of living water. Now this He said of the Spirit which they should receive who believed in Him. St. John 7:38, 39.
I will be as the dew: Israel shall spring as the lily, and his root shall shoot forth as that of Libanus. His branches shall spread, and his glory shall be as the olive-tree. Osee 14:6, 7.
b. Earthly good; Now faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not. For by this the ancients obtained a testimony.… All these died according to faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth. For they that say these things do signify that they seek a country. Heb. 11:1, 2, 13, 14.
If you be willing and will hearken to Me, you shall eat the good things of the land. Is. 1:19.
Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. St. Matt. 6:33.
c. Eternal good; Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Pet. 1:9.
He that shall hear Me shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance without fear of evils. Prov. 1:33.
Prayer
Cleanse my heart, O Holy Spirit, by this heavenly food, wherein Jesus gives me Himself. Strengthen my faith, that I may see Jesus in this Sacrament of His Body and Blood. There is in me a law by which I am in danger of falling into the captivity of sin. I have often to go on my heavenward way through darkness and many temptations, but Thou art my light and my strength. In Thee I trust. By Thy grace I can do all things that Jesus wishes me to do. Be ever in my soul as the dew of the light. With utter trust I rest upon Thee, and believe the testimony which Thou givest. Set up more and more Thy kingdom in my soul, that I may keep my body under, and bring it to subjection, test I should be a castaway from Jesus and from Thee.
Thanksgiving
Glory be to Thee, O Jesus, King and Spouse, whom my soul loveth. Thou hast given me for my food the Living Bread. Thou art dwelling in me. I praise Thee and thank Thee, O Thou lover of souls, as Thou dwellest in the Tabernacle. I praise Thee and thank Thee, as Thou dwellest in the souls of all who have received Thee worthily this day, wherever they may be. I praise Thee and love Thee for giving Thyself to the unworthy, who gave no welcome to Thee. I hope and pray, dear Jesus, that Thou art dwelling in my soul and filling it with grace. Thou drivest the darkness from me and makest me glad. Thou art light to me in every danger and strength in every weakness. Thou art my comfort in all sorrow and my rest in all weariness and pain. Thou art the healer of every woe. Thy voice, O Thou Beloved of the Father, is in my heart like the song of the morning stars. Keep me faithful, Thou Lord of life and love, that I may rejoice with the sons of God.