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THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ~ CURE OF THE PARALYTIC

(Read Matt. ix, 1-8.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY how gladly our Blessed Lord beheld the faith of these good men. They could not bring the poor paralytic to His divine presence, owing to the crowd of people. They therefore let him down from the roof, that He might from very pity heal him. (Mark ii, 4.) At this sight Jesus lovingly addressed the sick man himself and bade him trust in the divine help: Be of good heart, son, (Matt. ix, 2.) From this you may gather that the help of the others is beneficial to you, when they have recourse to Jesus with their prayers on your behalf. However it is likewise necessary that you should dispose yourself to obtain the graces of heaven, by your own acts of trust and supplication. For God has promised to answer us in that which we ask for others, though in His goodness He often answers even our prayers for others: Ask, and it shall be given to you. (Matt.vii, 7.)

APPLICATION: Why then are you so anxious that others should pray for you in your necessities, and yet little solicitous to approach our Lord and to pray for yourself? It is good indeed that others should pray for you and that you should pray for others. However it is even more important that, with confidence and fervent prayer, you should have recourse to our Lord on your own behalf.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: To thee will I pray: O Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear my voice. (Ps.v, 4.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY that the paralytic desired only and asked only for his bodily health. But Jesus, Who wishes to give us very much more than we know how to ask for, gave him the health of his soul and of his body at the same time. He freed his soul from its sin, and his limbs from their malady. This, too, is what happens when you go to God in your needs and in your afflictions. You ask Him in your prayers to deliver you from some very troublesome temptation, from some anguish of soul, or from some infirmity of body. If your request is right and will be for the good of your salvation, he will give you more than you had thought of asking.  

APPLICATION: Always then remember this, that God will not only hear you in what you desire of Him, but will make your soul more rich in merit and in virtue, by reason of the spiritual acts of humility and confidence that you make in praying to Him. You will often gain these other gifts, even when you do not obtain that for which you asked. Is this not enough to make you turn promptly to God in prayer in all your needs? 

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my prayer. (Ps. vi, 10.)

CONSIDER THIRDLY that Jesus gave the paralytic first the health of his soul and then that of his body. Thus He wishes to show us that very often temporal chastisements and the ills of the body have their origin in the spiritual ills of the soul and in sin. Moreover He also teaches how much more important it is to be healed of the paralysis and infirmity of your soul.

APPLICATION: If by reason of your tepidity or remissness you feel the weight of your sickness you must have recourse to our Blessed Lord in order that you may feel the virtue of His voice and hear Him say to your heart: Arise, take up thy bed. Thus He will make you rise up generously from your evil habits, and recover your strength of soul. You will take  up the bed of your flesh and your sensuality, wherein till now you have been lying, and will promptly do the bidding of reason and of the spirit.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Say unto my soul, O Lord, I am thy salvation. (Ps. xxxiv, 3.)

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MONDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ~ PRUDENCE WITH CONFIDENCE IN GOD

Be ye as wise as serpents and simple as doves. (Matt. x, 16.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that although you are bidden to have absolute confidence in God, it is not meant in the least that you should neglect the prudence which God has given you, but that you should not lean and depend on it alone. St. Peter says: Be prudent therefore and watch in prayers. (1 Peter iv, 7.) These two things then, prudence and recourse to God in prayer, should be united together in all your actions.

APPLICATION: If you guide yourself by prudence alone, you seem ti think that you need not the assistance and the light of God. If on the contrary you call upon God, but in your actions do not make use of those means which prudence dictates, you would then be obliging God to work miracles for you. The rash and the over prudent alike are displeasing to God.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding. (Ps. xlviii, 4.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY the reason why you should not depend on your own prudence, but should confide in God, namely because your prudence may easily deceive you and because with it alone you cannot foresee and provide against all events. You must indeed make up your mind according to what prudence and right reason dictate to you. But then you must have recourse to God in prayer, and place all your confidence of a good issue in Him. Trust solely in Him and not in your own judgment: Have confidence in God. (Prov. iii, 5.)

APPLICATION: This confidence which the wise man here recommends to you, should be a hope which is firm and strong, and which leaves no place in your heart for fear of the contrary of that which you hope for. This removes from you that exaggerated solicitude and anxiety into which prudence by itself usually degenerates. If you have confidence in God with all your heart (ibid.) He will always be ready to protect you.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for my soul trusteth in thee. (Ps. lvi, 2.)

CONSIDER THIRDLY that, in order that God may protect you, He desires that you should often think of Him: In all thy ways think of him. (Prov. iii, 6.) You should then renew in all your actions a right intention of pleasing Him alone, so that He alone may be the end and the aim of all of them. If thus you act you have nothing to fear. He will direct all your steps and all you actions, so that they may be for you so many paths to lead you to heaven. Nor will it be difficult for you to maintain this right intention, if you always bear in mind that of yourself you can do nothing, and that at any moment, with all your own prudence, you would be lost if God did not give you His hand to direct and protect you.

APPLICATION: If you had to walk by night through strange streets and where you were in danger of falling at every step, you would have no difficulty in thinking at every single moment of the guide who is leading you. So too must it be with you, when you once realise the great need you have of God in all your actions. All the good you may have done. All the habits of virtue that you may have formed, do not in any way remove from you the need you have of His divine aid and assistance. You are like the little child who, because he has long been held closely by his mother, has not on that account the less need of still being clasped firmly by her. 

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation. They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. (Ps. lxxxviii, 16.)

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TUESDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ~ REPENTANCE FOR SIN

I say to you that there will be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance. (Luke xv, 7.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that our Lord says that there is great rejoicing in heaven over the conversion of one sinner than over ninety-nine of the just. The reason for this is, because although the just are in general more estimable in God’s sight, nevertheless the penitent gives more joy because he is a new acquisition, as it were, and this especially when his acquisition has been a difficult one and almost despaired of. So it was that the father at the return of his prodigal son made an unusually great feast, for he had regained his son after so long an absence, that it seemed as is he had returned once more to life from the dead.

APPLICATION: From all this learn the immense love God has for you. You have been converted to Him, from a state of sin to the state of grace. Hence he rejoices at having once more regained you. And what other motive has He for rejoicing, if it be not that His heart tenderly loves you, and truly longs for your good? Would He not be equally blessed and happy without you? How is it that you are not moved to an intense love of God at this thought? You should therefore endeavour to secure your salvation, not only for your own good but much more in order to please God.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven: and whose sins are covered. (Ps. xxxi, 1.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY that in the conversion of the sinner the angels rejoice together with Christ, and make common festival with Him. They rejoice for three reasons in particular. First, as regards God, in seeing the glory which results to Him at the conversion of a sinner to repentance. Secondly, as regards men, because as they rejoice intensely in having mankind with them to partake of their own eternal happiness, so they greatly rejoice when they see one of them, who has lost his right to it, acquire it anew. Thirdly, as regards themselves, because as the angels help in the salvation of men, they rejoice above measure when they fulfil their office with entire fruit, and triumph over the enemies of our souls

APPLICATION: Do you also learn of the angels to rejoice and be glad for the same three motives, whenever you see or hear of the conversion of sinners. These conversions you should rejoice over more than over that worldly prosperity of which others generally make so much account. 

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Restore onto me the joy of thy salvation. I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee. (Ps. l, 14, 15.)

CONSIDER THIRDLY that in this you should find a still stronger motive for striving, according to your means and your power, to obtain the conversion of sinners. For sinners are converted not only by means of sermons and missions, but also by good counsels, by good examples, and above all by fervent prayers, accompanied by various kinds of little penances offered to God for this purpose. Hence it is that many sinners, who are converted by hearing sermons, are in fact more the fruit of private prayers than of the words and efforts of the preacher.

APPLICATION: Take then the counsel of the Holy Spirit: Recover thy neighbour according to thy power. (Ecclus. xxix, 26.) For thus you will have more merit before God and less motive for vainglory in yourself.  

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law. (Ps. xcviii, 53.)  

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WEDNESDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ~ DISTRUST IN SELF, TRUST IN GOD

Be not solicitous. . . Your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. (Matt. vi, 31-32.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that often various difficulties, dangers and grave troubles, that may come upon you, present themselves vividly before you, and in consequence you soul is afflicted and you lose heart, because you seem to yourself to lack sufficient strength and courage to overcome them. You must not however allow yourself to be affrighted by them. Your strength and your trust is not to be found in yourself but in God alone. Your enemy the tempter tries to represent them to you as vividly as possible, so as to make you despair and fall.

APPLICATION: Resist then the devil and have recourse to God. In this way will all the greatest difficulties, that alarm you, vanish from your mind like clouds of mist before the sun.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: I am needy and poor; the Lord is careful of me. Thou art my helper and protector. (Ps. xxxix, 18.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY that the difference you feel in yourself is really born out of the profound knowledge you have of your own weakness, which rightly makes you afraid of yourself. Your confidence in God should also be born of the lively knowledge of His divine love, and of His divine help, in which you should hope far more than you distrust yourself. This diffidence of yourself is a much more sure means to obtain the help of God, than would be the thought that you are safe and secure. For God wills to confound the presumptuous.

APPLICATION: Thus it is that many who have had too great confidence in themselves, when they were confronted by difficulties, have shamefully yielded to sin. Others who feared stood firm: because being conscious of their own frailty, they sought the divine help by humbling themselves and praying with great fervour. You , knowing your own weakness, must put your trust entirely in the help of God. Do at the same time your part in order to merit it, because thus it will not be presumption but true confidence.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am alone and poor. (Ps. xxiv, 16.)

CONSIDER THIRDLY that you should not cease to confide in God, even though at present you may not feel sensibly that vigour of spirit necessary to surmount certain difficulties, which make your weakness tremble. If God does not give to you strength at once, He will give it in time for you to be able to conquer in the combat. He gives His special aid when there is need for it, not when there is no occasion for it, and so does not give it in vain.

APPLICATION: Bear in mind that when the trials come He will give you the strength which you now lack. And the spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee, and thou shalt be changed into another man. (1 Kings x, 6.) It is said by the Apostle of those who trust in God, that they become valiant in battle. (Heb. xi, 34.) For when engaged in using their strength for the honour of God, in that very moment they obtain still greater strength from Him.  

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: The Lord has become a refuge for the poor: a helper in due time in tribulation. (Ps. ix, 10.)

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THURSDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ~ THE MORE PERFECT PATH

Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. v, 48.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that the commandments of God are called ways: Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me (Ps. xxiv, 4), so too the evangelical counsels are called paths: Teach me thy paths (ibid.) There are three reasons why the counsels are called paths. The first is because they are roads narrower than those of the commandments. They are narrow indeed at the beginning, but later on we can walk in them with ease. Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be straitened. (Prov. iv, 12.)

APPLICATION: The affections of the soul are the steps which carry her to God. These spiritual steps are different from our material ones. The latter ends by slackening our pace; the former make more vigorous by exercise. For this exercise is in fact a deep love of God, and he who loves much finds little or no difficulty in the observance of the counsels. He journeys most safely, ever loving virtue more and more. On the contrary, he who moves slowly and unwillingly in the service of God, easily stumbles and falls.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my paths. (Ps. cxviii, 105.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY another reason they are called paths. It is because they are ways frequented by a lesser number. Who does not see that precisely because these ways are less frequented, one can walk with greater ease in them. There is not so much human respect, there are not so much human respect, there are not so many distractions or so much bad example, all of which are often found where there is a great concourse.

APPLICATION: How safe and secure then is this more fervent mode of life. Thank God with your whole heart, if He has called you to walk in the more perfect path of Christian piety and holiness of life.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have desired. (Ps. cxviii, 35.) 

CONSIDER THIRDLY that these counsels of greater perfection are called paths because they afford the shortest and most direct course to heaven. Not that they make us die the sooner. It is not mortification that hastens death but excesses, sensuality and sin: The sting of death is sin. (1 Cor. xv, 56.) The counsels are the shorter, because they are the straighter, ways to heaven, which cause you to live with greater perfection here, and make you stay less time in purgatory.

APPLICATION: Thus it is seen in these narrower, shorter, and more solitary paths the words of Holy Writ are verified: Thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest thou shalt not meet a stumbling-block. (Prov. iv, 12.) See however that you do not weary of running, that you do not stop or turn back. For thus would you encounter many difficulties, and many risks, which, instead of serving you as so many helps to heaven, would rather serve you as obstacles on your way: For no man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven. (Luke ix, 62.)  

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:   I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart. (Ps. cxviii, 32.)

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FRIDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ~ LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST

As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. (John xv, 9.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY what a glorious example of the love of Jesus Christ we have in St. Paul. Who then shall separate us, he says, from the love of Christ? (Rom. viii, 35.) He could protest that all the evils he could possibly suffer could never separate him from the love of Christ or the happiness of serving Him, neither tribulations, nor even death itself.

APPLICATION: Possibly one only of these evils suffices to remove you from the love of Jesus. Think then what must have been the love of St. Paul, who could defy all these evils together to separate him from the love of Jesus.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings. My soul hath cleaved unto thee: thy right hand had upheld me. (Ps. lxii, 8, 9.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY that sometimes in prayer you picture yourself thrown into chains by barbarians, and done to death in a public place. You feel a great longing to bear such sufferings for the love of Jesus, when they are far off and improbable. In time of prayer you also imaging you are ready to suffer misfortunes which might be likely to befall you, such as want of lodging, of food, of the conveniences and even the necessities of life. But when you are put to the proof you often give way at the first trial. If sometimes you rise superior to one, you are not able to bear up against all. If you resist sickness of body, you give way under trial of soul. 

APPLICATION: See then how well rooted and strong was the love of Jesus in St. Paul. He not only despised so many evils together, but went to meet them all and overcame them: In all things, we overcome. (ibid.)

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me. (Ps. cxxxviii, 1.) 

CONSIDER THIRDLY that if, the example of St. Paul, you really wish to overcome generously the trials that assault you daily, you can according to your state succeed in doing so. In order to achieve this you only need to be filled with the love of Jesus Christ. It was precisely this that gave the Apostle so much strength to defy these evils and to conquer them all: In all these things we overcome because of Him that hath loved us. (ibid.) This means that victory came from the love he bore for Christ, and from the help that he himself received from Christ.  

APPLICATION: If then you desire to experience this same love, and hope for this same aid, set yourself to consider how greatly our Lord has been pleased to love you, and to suffer for you. How many tribulations and affections, how much hunger and nakedness, how many persecutions and mortal wounds from the thorns, the nails, the lance, and the cross, did He not bear for the love of you! And if He loved you to such an excess, will you not likewise bring to Him an equal return of love? From Him you may rely on receiving every help, so that you may be able to say with the Apostle in all your afflictions: In all these things we overcome because of Him that hath loved us. (Ibid.) 

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Thou art good: and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications. The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and silver. (Ps. cxviii, 68, 72.)

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SATURDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ~ WHETHER WORTHY OF LOVE OR HATRED?

When you have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants. (Luke xvii, 10.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that every man that knows he is in grievous sin, can be certain that he is worthy of the hatred of God. Yet no man, however just he may be, can know for certain whether he be worthy of His love. He knows that he received sanctifying grace at his baptism, which cancelled original sin. He knows that he receives it in the sacrament of penance which forgives actual sin. But he is not certain of having the dispositions necessary for the worthy reception of this sacrament. Neither can any one be sure whether he will have the grace of final perseverance. In a word, until we appear before the tribunal of Christ, we must always remain in this uncertainty of our salvation.

APPLICATION: You may rightly conclude then that, if in this uncertainty of your present and your future state you are not moved or do not tremble, it is a sign that you are walking in darkness.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Who knoweth the power of thy anger, and for thy fear can number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known. (Ps. lxxxix, 11, 12.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY that this uncertainty as to your present and future state is exceedingly profitable for you. Were you certain of being now in the state of grace, you might easily become proud. Were you sure of a good end at the last, you might easily neglect your present state. What fruit have not the saints gained from this uncertainty! It not only kept them continually most humble before God, in Whose hands they knew their destiny lay, but most humble also with regard to other men. For they judged all to be better than themselves, as regards both the present and the future state of their souls.

APPLICATION: Can you then dare unblushingly to think yourself better than so many others? And yet they are very likely even now in God’s sight in a state of grace greater than your own, and may here-after attain a higher degree of glory. Be at least then humble whilst your own state is still so uncertain.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: We have rejoiced for the days in which thou hast humbled us. (Ps. lxxxix, 15.)

CONSIDER THIRDLY that this uncertainty is very much for your good. Were it indeed possible for you to have from heaven a certain foreknowledge of your future salvation, you ought not to desire to have it. Did you but know the great merit of trusting all to the mercy of your God, with great confidence saying to Him: Behold God is my Saviour, I will deal confidently and will not fear (Isa. xii, 2), then you also might imitate the confidence of a great servant of God, who said that if he held in his hand an authentic declaration which assured him of his predestination, he would at once tear it up, so as to depend completely on the infinite goodness of God.

APPLICATION: The testimony then of a good conscience which does not accuse you of grave sin ought to suffice you. Never cease to commend yourself to God, and beg Him never to permit you to lose His grace. Thus you may confidently hope for your salvation. 

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy. (Ps. cxviii, 124.)

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