THURSDAY.
The Eucharist Compared to the Tree of Life.— III.
I. In consequence of the sin of our first parents, man was rendered subject to eternal death. " We were by nature," says St. Paul, " the children of wrath." (Ephes. ii. 3.) From this penalty the Eucharist delivers us, because it gives eternal life. " If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever." (John vi. 32.) The tenth misery to which we are subject, is a continual decay in good, and a strong inclination to evil. " For the imagination and thoughts of man's heart, are prone to evil from his youth." (Gen. vi. 21.) This inclination to evil is subdued by the holy Eucharist, and this spiritual decay remedied. The virtuous Christian, then, grows in spiritual life, and advances in the career of perfection. For "he that abideth in Me," says Christ, "and I in him, the same beareth much fruit." (John xv. 5.)
II. The eleventh misery of man in this vale of tears is an irksomeness and tediousness in our place of banishment. " Woe is me," said royal David, " that my sojourning is prolonged." (Ps. cxix. 5.) The Eucharist alleviates this tediousness, it is our viaticum, as the manna was to the Israelites, whilst we journey through the desert of this world, and until we arrive at the land of promise, the kingdom of everlasting glory.
III. The twelfth evil is a continual decay, and tendency td dissolution in our bodies. " Dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return." (Gen. iii. 19.) Thus, according to the course of nature, this body of ours would perish forever; but in consequence of their corporal participation with Christ, as St. Thomas teaches, the saints
