TRINITY xii
JESUS broke the bread which he gave to his disciples,
and they did the same afterwards in observing his sacrament. In fact
the earliest name for it was 'the bread-breaking'. He broke it himself,
in token that his enemies would break his body; he broke it himself, because
his sacrifice was voluntary, he consented that they should do what they
did. In the prayers after the consecration I must also break the
bread; I must break it over the name of Jesus when I pray for deliverance
from all evils through his death. Must I break the body, must I perform
in solemn symbol the work of Christ's executioners? I must, for I
must accept, I must identify myself with his willingness to die for my
salvation. There are no limits to the self-bestowing love of God;
no truth is more common on our lips than this, and none more distant from
our hearts.
