CHRIST, THE LIFE OF YOUR SOUL.

"Love the Lord thy God, and obey His voice and adhere to Him, for He is thy life and the length of thy days." (Deut. 30:20)

I.

It is recorded in the Gospel of today that Christ raised a young man from death to life. He is the true life of your soul according to the expression of St. John: "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, although he be dead, shall live." (John 11:25) "As the body dies," writes St. Augustine, "when it is abandoned by the soul, which is its life, so does the soul die when by sin it loses God, Who is its Life." Ponder the benefit of spiritual life by comparing it with that of the body, for the soul, when deprived of God's grace, is, in the sight of God, what a deformed, loathsome and useless carcass is in the eyes of men.

II.

Christ "with Whom is the fountain of life" (Ps. 35:10), gives life to dead souls by the Sacrament of Penance, and preserves and increases that life by the Holy Eucharist. "He that eateth Me," He says, "the same shall also live by Me," and, "he that eateth this bread shall live forever." (John 6:58) You ought, therefore, to expect, with a longing desire, the sacred hour in which this fountain of life will visit you. Say with the Psalmist: "As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God, my soul hath thirsted after the strong living God." (Ps. 41:2)

III.

This spiritual life is only bestowed on those who ask it with great devotion. "He asked life of Thee and Thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever." (Ps. 20:5) The life of the body is known to exist by its motion and operation; in the same manner, the life of the soul is discovered by its works, that is, by its imitation of Christ. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought, himself also, to walk, even as He walked." (1 John 2:6)

CONVERSION OF ZACHEUS. I.

I.

"Behold there was a man, by name Zacheus, and this was the chief of the publicans, and he was rich, and he sought to see Jesus." (Luke 19:2) The desire of finding Jesus is rare in the minds of the rich, but this desire was the beginning of Zacheus' conversion. "Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her; the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline." (Wis. 6:13) Examine whether you feel this desire of perfection, and if you do not, take care to excite it.

II.

"And he could not see Jesus for the crowd," he therefore ascended a tree. In his search after salvation, though a man of authority, he disregarded the ridicule and scoffs of the rabble. Perhaps you are not able to see Christ and understand His divine mysteries in consequence of the crowd of worldly thoughts which fill your mind. Retire, therefore, from them by prayer and mortification, and, like Zacheus, ascend the tree. This tree is the cross, which is "a folly to the Gentiles," for, as St. Gregory writes: "Those who, through humility, choose that which is folly to the world, arise to a feeling contemplation of the wisdom of God Himself."

III.

The charity and meekness of Jesus Christ prompted Him to grant Zacheus more than he wished, for He not only permitted Himself to be seen by him but also invited him to His conversation and familiarity. "Zacheus," He said, "make haste and come down, for today I must abide in thy house." He tells him to "make haste," because the grace of the Holy Ghost knows no slow delays. He mentions "today," because we ought to take advantage of the present time, for tomorrow may not be our own. "If today you should hear His voice, harden not your hearts." (Ps. 94:8)

CONVERSION OF ZACHEUS. II.

I.

Zacheus immediately obeyed Christ's call, "and made haste and came down, and received Him with joy." (Luke 19:6) Such ought to be your obedience; when Christ calls you by His secret inspiration, you should open the door of your heart as soon as you hear Him knock, lest, if you make any delay, He turn aside from you, as did the spouse in the Canticles, and pass away. Observe how those who stood by murmured, saying, "that He was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner." (Luke 19:7) Learn, hence, that the most holy actions are found fault with by the malicious. They did not understand the zeal of our Lord, "who came to seek and to save that which was lost."

II.

Zacheus was soon converted by his conversation with Christ, and immediately protested: "Behold Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor." Here the rich man despoils himself of his riches, partly for the benefit of the poor, and partly to make restitution for his injustices. He overcomes himself in a most difficult encounter, the abandoning of riches; but "the things which are impossible with men, are possible with God." (Luke 18:27) Examine whether you have as yet overcome yourself, at least in divesting yourself of the desire of wealth, and particularly in renouncing your own will.

III.

Christ approved of the piety of Zacheus. "This day," He said, "salvation is come to thy house" (Luke 19:9), that is, to the whole family of which he was the head. Such is the effect of good example in masters of families and rulers. Entreat our Lord to produce the same salvation in your soul, especially when He visits you during the time of Mass, either by sacramental or spiritual Communion.

CHRIST CURES THE CENTURION'S SERVANT. I.

I.

The servant of the centurion having fallen sick, his master was anxious for him, and sent intercessors to Christ, saying: "Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented." (Matt. 8:6) Observe the master's goodness and care for his servant, and ponder the efficacy of the prayers of such masters. Remark, also, his strong faith, for he believed that Christ, although absent, could effect the cure. Learn, hence, to perform works of charity even to your inferiors. "If thou have a faithful servant," says the Wise Man, "let him be to thee as thy own soul, treat him as a brother." (Ecclus. 33:31) Meditate deeply on this injunction of the Holy Ghost.

II.

Christ's charity and goodness induced Him to say immediately: "I will come and heal him." (Matt. 8:7) He offered more than the centurion asked; to wit, to come in person; whilst the centurion only wished to hear a word from Him, which would operate, he believed, an effectual cure. "Let mankind be ashamed of their backwardness," writes St. Augustine, "for God is more ready to give than we to receive." On another occasion, Christ was requested to cure the son of a ruler, but refused to visit him in person, whilst on this occasion, without being requested, He offers His personal service to a servant. "To destroy our pride, He does this," as St. Gregory remarks, "because we do not so much consider the nature of men" (which is the same in all), "as their honors or riches."

III.

The centurion, hearing that Christ intended to come Himself, sent a person to meet Him, and to say to Him: "Lord, trouble not Thyself, for I am not worthy Thou shouldst enter under my roof; wherefore, neither did I think myself worthy to come to Thee; but say the word, and my servant shall be healed." (Luke 7:6) Ponder the great humility of this man, and learn that men may be humble in any situation of life. He deemed himself unworthy to receive Christ under his roof, but he had already received Him in his heart. Do not fail to imitate him.

CHRIST CURES THE CENTURION'S SERVANT. II.

I.

Consider the centurion's description of himself: "I also am a man, subject to authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to one, go and he goeth, and to my servant do this, and he doeth it." (Luke 7:8) His meaning was, if I, who am but an inferior officer, subject to higher authority, can nevertheless command my soldiers and servants, and be obeyed, how much more will all creation be obedient to You, its Creator and Governor? This was an honorable confession of Christ's power. Rejoice at His greatness, and be confounded that servants obey their temporal masters with more promptness than you obey God or His vicegerents.

II.

Christ, having heard these expressions, praised the faith of the centurion and preferred it to that of the Jews, although the centurion was a Gentile. "I have not found," He says, "so great faith in Israel" (Matt. 8:10), "and I say unto you that many shall come from the east and the west, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into exterior darkness." The children of the kingdom of Heaven were, formerly, the Jews, but they are now outcasts, because they would not obey the call of God; but Christians are children of that kingdom in a special manner, "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood." (1 Pet. 2:9) Let us, therefore, act in such manner as to deserve this honor. "Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Apoc. 3:11)

III.

The request of the centurion was granted: "Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee." The Psalmist says: "The Lord will do the will of them that fear Him, and He will hear their prayer." (Ps. 144:19) Perhaps you possess a will, spiritually like the centurion's servant, that is slothful and sluggish. Imitate, therefore, the fervor and humility of this centurion, and by means of your spiritual friends, that is, the Angels and Saints, beg that God would cure you. Especially when you go to Communion, use the words of the centurion: "Lord, I am not worthy, that Thou shouldst enter under my roof." (Luke 7:6)

CURE OF PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW.

I.

Christ, having entered into St. Peter's house, found his mother-in-law lying sick of a fever; but his Disciples "besought Him for her." (Luke 4:38) Observe the charity of the Disciples in interceding for their neighbors, and the efficacy of their prayers; for the woman was immediately cured. All of us labor under some spiritual fever, caused by the heat of concupiscence or some unlawful passion. "Our fever is covetousness," says St. Ambrose, "our fever is lust, our fever is ambition." Examine under what spiritual ailment you labor, and have recourse to the Apostles as your intercessors.

II.

"Standing over her, He commanded the fever, and it left her." He did not employ the ordinary means to destroy the fever, but to show His divine power, He exercised command over it. Thus He commanded the winds and the sea and the infernal spirits, and they obeyed Him. As the members of the body obey the soul, and are subservient to it, so do all the things of creation obey God. "He spoke, and they were made; He commanded and they were created." (Ps. 148:5) Do not yourself be an exemption to this rule of universal obedience.

III.

When St. Peter's mother-in-law was cured, "immediately rising, she ministered to them." She did not allege weakness after sickness, but immediately began to labor, like the deserving woman in the Proverbs: "She hath girded her loins with strength, and strengthened her arm." (Prov. 21:17) Spiritual activity is a certain mark that the soul is cured of its diseases. Examine your conscience, and judge it by this rule.

CURE OF THE RULER'S SON.

I.

"There came to Him a certain ruler, whose son was sick, at Capharnaum and prayed Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death." (John 4:46) Remark how advantageous corporal infirmities are, for they force us to have recourse to God. Unless his son had been afflicted with sickness, perhaps the ruler had never been brought to Christ. It is related of Manasses, "that after he was in distress he prayed to the Lord his God, and Manasses knew that the Lord was God." (2 Par. 33:12-13) Do not fail, therefore, to consider corporal infirmities as blessings of God and incitements to virtue. "Their infirmities," says the Psalmist, "were multiplied, afterward they made haste." (Ps. 15:4)

II.

In answer, Christ reprehends those who wish to see miracles from motives of curiosity or incredulity. He refused to go to the house of the ruler, because we ought not to prescribe to God the means or manner of assisting us. He nevertheless cures this young man, although absent, the more to manifest His power and strengthen our faith in it. He is the Divine Being, "who commands the saving of Jacob." (Ps. 43:5) Learn hence not to wish for miracles, visions, or extraordinary favors of God, but to commit yourself entirely to His Divine providence. Beseech Him, if you be not worthy to receive Him under your roof by Holy Communion, at least, to "send thee help from the sanctuary and defend thee out of Sion." (Ps. 19:3)

III.

"The man believed the word which Jesus said to him, and himself believed, and his whole house." Thus, his son received corporal health, and he, and the whole family, spiritual life. Observe how Christ adds favors to favors. Remarking the efficacy of prayer, do not fail to perform that duty in the best manner that you can. St. Chrysostom says it is never an unseasonable time to pray.