Fire to eat and Spirit to drink; Angels: Day 315

St. Ephrem the Syrian is deeply aware of  the miraculous power of  the Eucharist. It’s a new miracle, he says:  we’re being given the very substance  of  the angels to eat and drink.

When the Lord came down to earth among mortals, he made them a new creation. Just as in the angels, he mingled fire and spirit, so that they might be made of fire and spirit in a hidden way.

The Seraph did not bring the living coal near with his fingers. It only came close to Isaiah’s mouth; he did not take hold of it or eat it (Isa. 6:6). But the Lord has given it to us both to hold and to eat.

To the angels, which are spiritual, Abraham brought bodily food, and they ate. But this is a new miracle: now our Lord gives to bodily creatures Fire and the Spirit as food and drink.

Fire came down on sinners in wrath and consumed them. But the Fire of the Merciful One comes down in bread and stays. Instead of the fire that devoured sinners, you eat a Fire in bread and are made alive.

As fire came down on the sacrifice of Elijah and consumed it (1 Kings 18:38), the Fire of mercy has become a living sacrifice to us. Fire ate up the oblations, and we, Lord, have eaten your Fire in your oblation. –St. Ephrem the Syrian,  Rhythm 10

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

When I go to Mass to take the food of angels, do I try to keep myself aware of what a miracle is happening?

CLOSING PRAYER

Heal my fright at the dangers, Lord, and let me take heart in you, so that with your angels surrounding me, I may partake of the Spirit in your bread and the Fire in your cup.

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