"In order that we might be one with Him not just in spirit but in body, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones (cf Gen. 2:23), He granted us union with Himself through this bread. Every love finds fulfilment through unity and starts from likeness. The popular adage “Like attracts like” is an ancient one. The love associated with the married state seems somehow superior to other forms of love. “For this cause”, it says, “shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh” (Matt. 19:5). “This is a great mystery”, says the divine Paul, “but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:32). It says in that same passage that a man shall cleave and become one flesh, but not one spirit. We, by contrast, shall not only be joined to Christ’s body but mingled with it through partaking in this divine bread, and we shall not just become one body, but also one spirit. Do you see that the surpassing greatness of God’s love towards us comes about, and is manifested, through sharing this bread and this cup? For this reason “Burnt offering and sin offering hath he not required”, according to the Psalms, “But he hath prepared a body for us” (cf Ps. 40:6 Lxx)."
+ St Gregory Palamas
