Another reason may be added why that is called the house of the Lord which was called a city and a kingdom: namely, because In My Father's house there are many mansions (John 14). For in houses there are dining halls for taking food, bedchambers with their beds for taking sleep, and halls or courts for the exercise of the various functions which are not wont to be done outside houses. And to begin with the dining hall: there is truly a dining hall in the house of the Lord, where all the blessed not only feast on royal dishes, but — what is greatly to be marveled at, and would not be believed unless the Holy Spirit Himself taught us this — the King Himself, girded, waits upon the tables. For so speaks the Lord in Luke: Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching: amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them (Luke 12). What manner of dining hall is this, I ask? Who has ever heard of such things? The Lord stands; the servant reclines. The Lord girds Himself, that He may minister without hindrance; the servant is ungirded, that he may recline the more freely and at ease. The Lord moves about, hastening to and fro and bringing the dishes; the servant eats in quiet and enjoys royal fare. O if we pondered these things and took them to heart, how quickly would all earthly desires grow worthless in our eyes! The Lord once girded Himself with a linen towel to wash His disciples' feet. Peter shuddered, and could not bear that a servant's feet should be washed by the Lord (John 13). But then Peter rightly shuddered, because He was giving His little servants an example of humility. Yet in that heavenly house, the girding and ministry of the Lord is not a humbling, but a gracious condescension; nor will the servants of God in heaven need an example of humility, where none will be proud, but all will be confirmed and perfected in every kind of virtue. That girding of the Lord, therefore, signifies that the Lord will wait upon each one of His servants and brethren so freely, so readily, so without any hindrance — heaping all good things upon them and refreshing them — as though He had nothing else to do, and were alone with each one alone.
O Christian soul, what is this? Would that you could taste and understand with what honor and with what delight the Lord will heap up His blessed servants for all eternity! For if these things sank deep into your heart, surely you too, fervent in spirit, your loins girt, would gladly spend yourself wholly in the service of so sweet a Lord; and if He ever met you in His poor brethren, you would not only not spurn Him or look on Him with disdain, but with a heart enlarged by charity you would refresh Him and cherish Him, mindful of those words: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these My least brethren, you did it to Me (Matt. 25). Now, that He will make His servants sit down signifies that they, already admitted into the Father's house, may recline in utmost safety, without any danger or anxiety, and be filled and enjoy all the good things with which the house of the Lord is furnished. For there will be no one thenceforth who could hinder them, by force or by craft, or prevent them from enjoying every good with the utmost freedom. Finally, that the Lord Himself, passing among them, ministers to them means nothing else than that the choice fare of the blessed is the Lord Himself: for He is the bread of life, He is the fountain of wisdom, He is the hidden manna, which no one knows but he who receives it. So He Himself passes among them all, He Himself ministers to all a feast ineffable, which satisfies without cloying and fills without satiety.