st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

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SERMONS. 127
hands, is buried in the hewn rock. Even so those
souls that are soon broken and easily dissolved in
pleasures, endure not to receive the divine Word. This
is for those of sterner stuff, that are cast in manlier
mould for virtue (c. xxx.).
In the practical exhortation to his hearers with
which he concludes, Damascene may possibly refer
to the spread of Mahometanism around.
Let us
strive then to multiply the talents committed to us,
in proportion to our power. Let him that has
received five, return to the giver five more besides ;
and let him that has been entrusted with two do
the like. Let the one who has received the grace for
this, stretch out a helping hand to them that need
compassion, and that toil under the burden of
poverty. Let another feed with the word of life
those who are wasting in spiritual hunger, and
parched with the hot blast of unbelief" (c. xxxiv.).
The allusion in this last expression to the scorching
wind of the desert, would make the words more ex
pressive. In view of the approaching celebration of
the Holy Eucharist on the morrow, he thus addresses
them ;
and the language he uses on this subject, as
representing the Eastern Church, will not fail to be
carefully noted "
Let us who are bidden, : array
ourselves gloriously in the wedding garment, that
we may be made partakers of the heavenly feast, and
be owned worthy of our and calling, may share the
fatted calf, and take our portion of the Paschal
Lamb, and be filled with the new produce of the
vine ;
even that which is now at the invocation truly
and unspeakably changed from bread into the flesh