ACC ~ John 6 v58 - 59

LENGTH OF LIFE VERSUS LIFE WITHOUT END

CHRYSOSTOM: If it was possible without harvest or fruit of the earth, or any such thing, to preserve the lives of the Israelites of old for forty years, much more will he be able to do this, having come for a greater purpose…. He knew how precious a thing life was in people’s eyes, and therefore he repeats his promise of life often, just as the Old Testament had done. But the Old Testament only offered long life, whereas he offers life without end. This promise was an abolition of that sentence of death that sin had brought on us…. He said these things in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum, where many displays of his power took place…. He taught in the synagogue and in the temple, with the intention of attracting the multitude and as a sign that he was not acting in opposition to the Father. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 47.1-2. [1]

THE HEAVENLY BREAD OF IMMORTALITY

ROMANUS MELODUS:

All the angels on high marvel at the affairs of earth

For earth-born men dwelling here below

Are exalted in spirit and reach what is on high

As they share in Christ, crucified. [2]

For all together partake of His body,

As they eagerly come to the bread of life,

They hope for eternal salvation from it.

Even though visibly, to all appearances, it is bread

It sanctifies them spiritually because it is

The heavenly bread of immortality.

That the bread which we take is the flesh of the Immanuel,

The Master Himself was the first to teach us;

For when He voluntarily went to His Passion,

Christ broke the bread of salvation, [3]

And said to His apostles, as it is written:

“Now draw near; eat of this,

And eating, you will receive eternal life,

For this is my flesh, this food,

Since really, I whom you behold, am

The heavenly bread of immortality.

We all know, we who possess complete faith in Christ,

That as we approach, eager for the mystic bread

And in addition take the cup of salvation,

If we are of pure heart and without dissimulation

We are all participants of the flesh and blood

Of Christ with faith in Him, and we hope

From this a life like that of the angels;

For, in very truth, the body of the One who suffered,

The very holy body of Jesus Christ is

The heavenly bread of immortality.

KONTAKION ON THE MULTIPLICATION OF LOAVES 13.1-3. [4]

[1] NPNF 1 14:169**.

[2] Heb 3:14.

[3] Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25.

[4] KRBM 1:129-30.