The Tree of Life

Panis angelicus
fit panis hominum;
Dat panis caelicus
figuris terminum:
O res mirabilis!
manducat Dominum
Pauper, servus, et humilis.
Te trina Deitas
unaque poscimus:
Sic nos tu visita,
sicut te colimus;
Per tuas semitas
duc nos quo tendimus,
Ad lucem quam inhabitas.
Amen.
Bread of Angels,
made the bread of men;
The Bread of heaven
puts an end to all symbols:
A thing wonderful!
The Lord becomes our food:
poor, a servant, and humble.
We beseech Thee,
Godhead One in Three
That Thou wilt visit us,
as we worship Thee,
lead us through Thy ways,
We who wish to reach the light
in which Thou dwellest.
Amen.

My Play List includes a song sung by St. Phillips choir: "Panis Angelicus" or, Bread of Angels. A beautiful song; it sounds like we imagine it would sound if the angels themselves were giving voice to the words. It's originally inspired of course, by our Lord's own words: "For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:33-35

Jesus' audience hoped for a free hand-out. They really didn't understand that when they looked upon Jesus, they could see the Father. They didn't understand that the Father himself was inviting them to be reconciled with himself; that he was giving the invitation to rise above the mundane and the restrictions of the flesh and walk with him in light - as the sons of light they were created to be. They wanted supper.  Later, when Jesus told them in effect: "no, no, it's not supper - IT IS ME! IT IS ME YOU NEED!", they were even more offended. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat (and his blood to drink)?

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." John 6:63  You cannot receive life by eating the sanctified bread if you are not listening to the Word of God carried to your heart by the Holy Spirit.

Have you noticed our Lord gives us a "vegetarian" version of the same teaching?

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4,5

The Words, the Spirit! Jesus isn't recommending we search out the right tree and make cuts in it and our own flesh so as to receive the life sap of the tree into ourselves. No sect of the church (to my knowledge) has dedicated any type of tree or fruit that must be eaten in order for us to receive the life of Christ. But this is the same teaching, none the less. Christ's Spirit, the Holy Spirit of Christ must be welcome in our souls. His words tell about the life "blood" of the tree that must find its way into our own veins.

Don't be afraid to call out to the Son of God. Call to him: "Christ, have mercy. Be welcome; fill me with the knowledge of your presence."  He doesn't despise your humanness. He made you and he loves you.