Friday, May 13 : Saint John Chrysostom

The Jews ate the Passover standing, their sandals on their feet, their staff in their hands, and in haste (cf. Ex 12,11). How much more, then, should you remain awake! They were making ready to leave for the Promised Land and so were acting like travelers; you are on the road to heaven. That is why we should always keep on on the watch… The enemies of Christ struck is most holy body without knowing what they were doing (Lk 23,34) and do you receive him into a soul that is sullied even after so many blessings! For he was not content to become man, to be scourged and put to death: in his love for us he yet wanted to be united with us, to be made one with us not just by faith but in reality through participation in his own body… Consider what a great honor is given you and at what table you are the guest. He whom the angels do not see without awe, he whom they dared not behold without fear on account of the splendor radiating from his face, we make our food and become one body, one flesh with him. “Who can tell the mighty deeds of the Lord or proclaim all his praises?” (Ps 106[105],2). What shepherd is there who has ever fed his flock with his own body?… How often it happens that mothers entrust their children to a wetnurse. But Christ does not do this: he feeds us with his own blood and makes us one body with himself.

maronite readings – rosary,team