ACC ~ Mark 15 v23b

THE SEDATIVE REJECTED

AUGUSTINE: Be cautious and receive the words of our adversaries in order to spit them out, not to gulp them down and ingest them. Do in this instance what the Lord did when they offered him a bitter drink; he tasted it, and spat it out. [1] So also should you, taste and spit. TRACTATE ON JOHN 6.11. [2]

SPURNING THE CUP

PRUDENTIUS:

Thus did Christ in the hour of crucifixion

Spurn the cup that was offered when he thirsted, [3]

And refusing to drink, prolonged his anguish.

HYMN 6. [4]

[1] Cf. Mt 27:34; Mk 15:23.

[2] Cetedoc 0278, 6.11.6; FC 78:139*. As he spurned the supposed comforts of adversaries, so does the church reject the pseudo-comforting words of false teachers.

[3] Cf. Mk 15:23.

[4] Cetedoc 1443, 6.58; FC 43:171.