Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

414 ST. MATTHEW.
ened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying nnto
him. Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to
eat the passover ?"
See here the extreme poverty of Christ, who had
who would fain
no house of his own on earth ! He
settle himself here, as in his native country, is not his
disciple. The disciples and imitators of his poverty
follow the spirit of their Master, depend on provi-
dence, and live in peace all their days, without know-
ing either where or how it will provide for their ne-
cessities. A man is easy as to every thing when he
has Jesus Christ in his heart.
" 18. And he said, Go into the city to such a
man, and say unto him. The Master saith. My time
is at hand ; I will keep the passover at thy house with
my disciples. 19. And the disciples did as Jesus
had appointed them ;
and they made ready the pass-
over."
The command of Christ, the obedience of the dis-
ciples, and every thing which passes here, show
plainly that he is truly the Master of all who is going
to suffer. He makes himself obeyed when he pleases
but he knows also how to obey, when it is necessary
for the salvation of his people, and for our example.
He looks on the time of his sufferings and death as
his own proper time ; it is also the time of every
Christian in this life.
" 20. Now, when the even was come, he sat down
with the twelve."
A man must be a disciple of Jesus Christ in order
to eat the passover with him ; that is, in order not to
receive his body and blood in the eucharist unworthily,
lie must have learned in his school, which is the church,