LXX
THIS IS A SERMON ABOUT THE LORD'S BODY
This is a
sermon about the Lord's body by Brother Eckhart. He says that the bread of
our Lord's body has many names, but three special ones are given it in holy
writ. In the first place it is called the heavenly bread, the second it is
called the bread of angels, and thirdly the bread of lamentation. And
whoso would worthily receive this bread of our Lord's body must have these three
things. First, none can enjoy the heavenly bread who is not a heavenly
man. This means that as the heavens with the sun and moon and the entire system
are above all earthly, temporal things, so man in his desires, his senses and
his thoughts must be lifted up to celestial things. Secondly, no man can
enjoy the bread of heaven except he be an angelic man, for no creature was ever
so perfect as an angel. This man must be at all times perfectly pure in
heart and body. Thirdly, it is called the bread of lamentation: this no
man enjoys except he be a man of sorrow, one, that is to say, who pondering our
Lord's martyrdom shall rue the treatment melted out to our Lord on earth.
Whoso has not this rue shall not enjoy the bread of sorrow. So, then, a man must
have three things before he can approach this bread. First, having gotten
to the excellent condition of knowing good and ill, he must choose the good and
worthy and reject the foul and evil. Next, with his heart divorced from
worldly loves, this man must go in godly love and all godly things.
Thirdly, he must order all his activities.
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