(Prv.9:1-6; Ps.34:2-7; Eph.5:15-20; Jn.6:51-58) "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink of His blood, you do not have life within you." Wisdom "has spread her table"; "she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine." And now she sends out "her maidens," calling "from the heights out over the city… 'Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!'" Let the simple hearts, those who seek understanding and refreshment, "turn in here." Here is bread that He gives "for the life of the world." Yes, His "flesh is true food, and [His] blood is true drink." Jesus, the only Son, has come "down from heaven" and now spreads the table before us, in fulfillment of the Scriptures, in answer to all prayers. Are not our priests His maidens calling souls forth to the altar where we feed? Is the Church not His city where His voice resounds, where His blood is outpoured? And so we should heed the instruction of Paul today and "watch carefully how [we] live, not as foolish persons but as wise," seeking the precious bread that opens all eyes. "Do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery"; rather, "be filled with the Spirit" that comes to you in this wine made holy, in His sacred blood. Brothers and sisters, let us "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in [our] hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." For what greater joy could there be than this Blessed Sacrament? And so, "glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol His name," that we may indeed be "radiant with joy, and [our] faces may not blush with shame." For the wise come to this table and eat, and so have life everlasting. For the Lord is here in our midst, in flesh and blood. Here is the house with "seven columns" in which His children ever dwell. The foolish may fall by the wayside, but the wise receive eternal life. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Love, the Meaning of" part c. "Love" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, eating Jesus' flesh and drinking His blood, we gain understanding, we come to eternal life… and so our mouths are filled with praise! YHWH, feed us with the flesh and blood of your only Son, this spiritual bread and wine that nourishes us to eternal life. The days are evil and the food the world offers brings man only death – give us wisdom to see the emptiness, the foolishness of feasting on such corrupted fare, and come to your table today. O LORD, we praise you for your goodness to us, for when we sought you, when we recognized our lack of understanding and turned to you and to your Son, our shame you took from us and made us radiant with joy. May Wisdom remain with us always; your Spirit ever sing in us of your surpassing glory. To the banquet let us come, to the feast Jesus prepares for us by His sacrifice. Let us eat His Body and drink His Blood and live forever in your heavenly kingdom.