THE TABERNACLE AND THE PULPIT

 

Bossuet says: “The tabernacle and the pulpit are the two august places in the temple of God; at the one, petitions are made, and from the other, commands are issued; at the one, men speak of God, while at the other, it is God who speaks; at the one, Jesus Christ receives adoration in the reality of His Body, while at the other, He makes Himself known in the truth of His doctrine. They are the two places from which heavenly nourishment is distributed: at the former, the Word is preached in silence, and at the latter, it is taught by the living voice; at the former, the Holy Spirit, through mystical words, transforms the bread into the divine Body, and here, the same power transforms the faithful into members of Christ. Saint Augustine said: ‘Which do you consider more important: the Word of God or the Body of Christ? If you wish to answer truthfully, you will be compelled to reply that the word of Jesus Christ is no less precious than His Body; therefore, we must exercise the same care to ensure that the word of Christ preached to us does not fall from our hearts as we do to ensure that the Lord’s Body does not fall to the ground when it is given to us. For he who listens negligently to the holy word is no less culpable than he who, through his own fault, lets the Lord’s Body fall.’”