THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
After partaking in this sacred nourishment, we must reflect on the nature of life for one who has consumed such holy sustenance. The significance of unleavened bread and the festival of unleavened bread reveals this. The Jewish people place great importance on unleavened bread and believe that observing these seven days adds something unique to their lives. They abstain from leavened bread and keep it nearby, yet they often cannot articulate the true benefit of this practice, as they merely follow the symbolism rather than engaging with its deeper truth.
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It is vital to grasp the meaning of unleavened bread through the teachings of the Apostle, as we have demonstrated: the aim is for the soul to be unblemished and free from any wrongdoing, allowing for a new way of living that renounces past sins. This understanding is illuminated by the command regarding leaven: "there shall be no leaven in your houses: for whosoever shall eat leaven, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel." To revert to previous sinful behaviors is a tragedy for one who has been brought into a new existence. "If ye live according to the flesh," it is stated, "ye shall die" (Rom. 8:13). What does the symbolism of the seven days (of unleavened bread) convey? The instruction is to partake of unleavened bread for seven days, which represent the passage of all time; the seventh day signifies rest, after which the cycle returns to the beginning. Thus, life in its entirety should be lived with simplicity and purity, which is truly beneficial. "If," it says, "ye mortify the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit, ye shall live" (Rom. 8:13). The nature of one who seeks not after worldly desires is characterized by simplicity, integrity, and a detachment from all that is wicked and loathsome.