But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating meat, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die.
Read Chapter 22
Athanasius the Apostolic
AD 373
Now we say that the wicked are dead, but not in an ascetic life opposed to sin; nor do they, like the saints, bear about dying in their bodies. But it is the soul which they bury in sins and follies, drawing near to the dead and satisfying it with dead nourishment. [They are] like young eagles which, from high places, fly upon the carcasses of the dead, and which the law prohibited, commanding figuratively, “You are not to eat the eagle or any other bird that feeds on a dead carcass.” And it pronounced unclean any other animal that eats the dead, for these kill the soul with lusts and say nothing but “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” - "Festal Letter 7.2"
That too great lust of food is not to be desired. In Isaiah: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die. This sin shall not be atoned for to you, even until you die.” Also in Exodus: “And the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Paul, in the first [letter] to the Corinthians: “Food does not commend us to God; neither if we eat shall we abound, nor if we do not eat shall we lack.” And again: “When you come together to eat, wait one for another. If any is hungry, let him eat at home, that you may not come together for judgment.” Also to the Romans: “The kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” In the Gospel according to John: “I have food of which you don’t know. My food is that I should do his will who sent me and should finish his work.” - "To Quirinus 3.60"
Die. Thus the pagans encouraged themselves to feast. (Calmet)
Ergo vivamus dum licet esse bene. (Petronius)
This conduct betrayed an entire want of faith. (Calmet)
"Nothing offends God so much.as contempt proceeding from despair. "(St. Jerome)
