Tractatus Alter, Pars Prior, Cap. 19. De convivio Christi cum eisdem discipulis

Tractatus Alter, Pars Prior, Cap. 19. De convivio Christi cum eisdem discipulis

I am. I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, comforter of the troubled, merciful to the poor, sustainer of the hungry, and supporter of the laboring, for the physical meal with your disciples and for the abundant catch of many great fish through the hands and labors of your beloved disciples in your sight and through the power of your words, when you said to them: "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find."^✦ O great grace of God. You are indeed the creator of all things and the provider for the needy and the weak, who have neither storerooms full of food nor bags of money hidden in chests. Woe to those who trust in their own possessions, where thieves can steal everything in one night and waste it badly. I praise and glorify you, most glorious Jesus, for the friendly invitation of your disciples and the poor fishermen to dine with you after a long fast and the heavy toil of fishing, saying to them: "Come, eat; for I have prepared for you who are weary and hungry bread and fish cooked over burning coals." If any of you needs warmth, come to the fire and warm yourselves. If your garment is stained or your cloak is damp, wash it quickly and wipe it clean with the prepared coals. You know well what I did for you back then at the meal before my passion: I washed your feet and dried them, and I spoke to you about humility and love, urging you to keep these things in mind by my example for a long time. And now, after my resurrection, I appear to you to remind you more diligently of these things and to share a meal with you. I don't need food for my own necessity, but I speak to you now to show you the truth of my glorious body. So, eat with me in love, soberly and modestly, while keeping silent and abstaining from vain things, just as I taught you, and as you have seen in me and often heard. Because I never spoke a careless word from my mouth, but always what pleased my Father and was useful and fruitful for those who listened. The witnesses to this are the four holy Gospels scattered throughout the world, in which there is absolutely nothing vain or indecent. Be content now with the little you see, for I have prepared for you, my children, what you said: 'We have no food,' and neither do we have a roasted chicken or a spiced dish, which are meant for the gluttonous, not for the religious and devout brothers and sisters; but rejoice in simple food, bread and fish, graciously given to you by God. But perhaps this isn't enough for you because of the guests who are coming and the poor beggars you shouldn't turn away, but rather support and comfort as best you can. So I tell you, don’t be timid when you have plenty, but confidently bring to me the fish you’ve caught now in great abundance and with joyful hearts. When Simon Peter heard this, he immediately got up to obey, eager and ready, and he dragged the net full of large fish—one hundred fifty-three—in to the shore with his companions. And all were amazed, giving thanks to God the Father and to you, His Son Jesus Christ, whom they saw present and recognized through the Holy Spirit. And so no one dared to ask you, 'Who are you, standing here with us, speaking and eating?'. For they all truly knew that you are our Lord Jesus Christ, who rose from the sealed tomb, alive and immortal, and revealed yourself to us. I praise and thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, beloved friend of all your devoted ones, sweet guest of the joyful soul, companion among your brothers and friends, for such a good meal and social gathering that you prepared for your beloved disciples after much labor, inviting them to dine and serving them with your own hand the blessed bread from your mouth and the fish, similarly roasted over the fire, warm with love, and spiritually sweet within. Oh, how sweet that food tasted, where Jesus was the cook and served at the table! And what more can I say? Indeed, this meal was very delightful, which Jesus had with his disciples at that time, but the sacred banquet of his precious Body and Blood is much more excellent, worthy, and delightful, which is celebrated daily in the church, where Jesus himself is received and not consumed, and the memory of his passion is recalled, which he endured for all of us. The mind is filled with grace from the presence of Jesus in the joy of the heart, which is often dry and cold in itself. But a pledge of future glory is given to the devoted soul in this sacred banquet for solace and nourishment of spiritual life during this pilgrimage, until Christ comes and takes her to Himself from all the labor and pain of this present misery into eternal rest with His holy disciples in the house of His Father, where she will neither hunger nor thirst, but will rejoice with Him forever. I want to be taken away from this good and pleasant company of the saints and from the sweet fellowship of Jesus with His disciples by the shore of the sea. I long and desire from the depths of my heart to become one of the least of Jesus' beloved disciples in this present world, through a contempt for the world and a renunciation of all fleeting things, not by my own merits and efforts, but through the grace of God and the mercy of my Lord Jesus Christ, so that I may also be worthy to be visited, consoled, and rejoice with all the saints in His future kingdom and be glorified. Amen.