From the Sermons of St John Chrysostom Patriarch of Constantinople.
both Homily to the people of Antioch.
 
His Word saith: "This is My Body." This we confess, and believe, and, with spiritual eyes, do see. Christ hath not left unto us Himself in such form as that we can see, hear, touch, smell, or taste Him and yet hath He left Himself unto us in things which we can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste, and which all men may understand. Thus also is it in baptism by mean of water, which men perceive outwardly, is given unto them a gift which they can grasp only inwardly, that is, a new birth. If we had no bodies, then would these things be given us without any outward and visible signs, but since we are here made up of souls and bodies, there are given unto our souls gifts which they can grasp, in outward signs which our bodies may perceive. How many there be which say I would that I could see His comely presence, His Face, His garments, even His shoes Behold, thou dost see and touch Him, yea, thou dost feed upon Him. And wouldest thou behold His raiment Lo, He hath given unto thee not only to behold it, but to feed upon it, and handle it, and take it into thyself.

At this table of the Lord let none dare to draw near with squeamishness or carelessness. Let all be fiery, all hot, all roused. To the Jews it was commanded touching the Paschal lamb, Exod. xii. 11: "And thus shall ye eat it with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand and ye shall eat it in haste it is the Lord's Passover." But thou needest to be more watchful than they. They were just about to travel from Egypt to Palestine, and therefore they bore the guise of travellers but the journey that lieth before thee is from earth to heaven. And therefore it behoveth thee in all things to be on thy guard, for the punishment of him that eateth or drinketh unworthily is no light one 1 Cor. xi. 27. Bethink thee how thou art indignant against him which betrayed, and them that crucified the Lord and look to it well that thou also be not " Guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord." As for them, they slew His Most Holy Body but thou, after all that He hath done for thee, dost thrust Him into thy polluted soul. For His love, it was not enough to be made Man, to be buffeted, and to be crucified He hath also mingled Himself with us, by making us His Body, and that not by faith only, but verily and indeed.

Anything be purer than that man ought to be, who eateth of this great Sacrifice Can sun-beam be clearer than that hand ought to be which breaketh this Flesh? that mouth, which is filled with that spiritual fire? that tongue, which is reddened by that Blood, awful exceedingly? That whereon the Angels quail to look, neither dare to gaze steadfastly upon It, because of the blinding glory that shineth therefrom, upon This we feed, with This we become one, and are made one body of Christ, and one flesh. "Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord who can show forth all His praise?" Ps. cv. 2. Where is the shepherd which feedeth his flock with his own blood Nay, why should I say, shepherd Many mothers there be, who after all the pains of travail, give their own little ones to strangers to nurse. But so would not He, but feedeth us with His Own Blood, and maketh us to grow up in His Own substance.
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.

Ant. It is at thine Altar, O Lord,

Psalm 83 [9]

83:1 How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! * my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord.
83:2 My heart and my flesh * have rejoiced in the living God.
83:3 For the sparrow hath found herself a house, * and the turtledove a nest for herself where she may lay her young ones:
83:4 Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, * my king and my God.
83:5 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord: * they shall praise thee for ever and ever.
83:6 Blessed is the man whose help is from thee: * in his heart he hath disposed to ascend by steps, in the vale of tears, in the place which he hath set.
83:7 For the lawgiver shall give a blessing, they shall go from virtue to virtue: * the God of gods shall be seen in Sion.
83:9 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: * give ear, O God of Jacob.
83:10 Behold, O God our protector: * and look on the face of thy Christ.
83:11 For better is one day in thy courts * above thousands.
83:12 I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, * rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners.
83:13 For God loveth mercy and truth: * the Lord will give grace and glory.
83:13 He will not deprive of good things them that walk in innocence: * O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. It is at thine Altar, O Lord, * that we do feed on Christ, for Whom our heart and our flesh crieth out.

Ant. The Lord prepareth His Table before us * in the presence of our enemies.

Psalm 22 [5]

22:1 The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. * He hath set me in a place of pasture.
22:2 He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment: * he hath converted my soul.
22:3 He hath led me on the paths of justice, * for his own name’s sake.
22:4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, * for thou art with me.
22:5 Thy rod and thy staff, * they have comforted me.
22:6 Thou hast prepared a table before me * against them that afflict me.
22:7 Thou hast anointed my head with oil; * and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
22:8 And thy mercy will follow me * all the days of my life.
22:9 And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord * unto length of days.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. The Lord prepareth His Table before us * in the presence of our enemies.