Wednesday, May 7 : Baldwin of Ford

Christ says: “Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst”… And the psalmist says: “bread fortifies the hearts of men” and “wine gladdens men’s hearts” (Ps 104[103],15). Christ is food and drink, bread and wine to those who believe in him: bread that strengthens and fortifies…, drink and wine that gladdens… All that is strong and firm in us, that is joyful and glad to carry out God’s commands, bear suffering, put obedience into effect and stand up for justice: all these things consist in the strength of this bread and joy of this wine. How blessed are they who act boldly and joyfully! And since no one is able to do this unaided, blessed are they who longingly desire to put into practice what is just and right and to be strengthened and gladdened in everything by him who said: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Mt 5,6). If Christ is the food and drink that ensures the strength and joy of the righteous even now, how much more will he be so in heaven when he gives himself to the righteous without measure? Note how, in the words of Christ…, the food that remains for eternal life is called bread from heaven, true bread, the bread of God, the bread of life… It is bread of God to distinguish it from bread made and prepared by the baker…; it is bread of life to distinguish it from the perishable bread that neither is, nor gives life but barely keeps it going with difficulty and for a time. This bread, however, is life, gives life, preserves in being the life that has nothing to do with death.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team