Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/166

 upon continually  by  distractions  and  idle  thoughts;  and whether it  be  stony  and  full  of  the  cares  and  occupations of this  life,  and  consequently  not  susceptible  of  the  divine influence  of  heavenly  grace. If this  be  unfortunately your  case,  reform  your  state,  and  render  yourself capable of  profiting  by  this  divine  seed.

III. This seed,  although  sown  in  a  good  soil,  does  not " bring  forth  fruit"  except  "  in  patience." (Luke viii.  15.) Learn, therefore,  to  persevere  with  patience  in  expectation of  the  effect. Do not  desist  from  cultivating  the soil of  your  soul  because,  perhaps,  you  do  not  immediately discover  the  fruit  which  you  desire  to  reap. " Behold," says  St.  James,  "  the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the precious  fruit  of  the  earth,  patiently  bearing  till  he  receive the  early  and  the  latter  rain." (James v.  7.)  Act in the  same  manner,  and  the  divine  seed  will  not  be sown  in  your  soul  in  vain.

I. "  Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem." (Matt. xx.  18.) The time  had  now  arrived  in  which  Christ  had  decreed from all  eternity  to  suffer  for  the  redemption  of  tlr* world. He therefore  went  up  to  Jerusalem  with  great cheerfulness and  speed;  for  "He  went  before  them,  and they  were  astonished,  and  following  were  afraid." (Mark x. 32.)  Thus  did  He  hasten  to  death,  carried  along  by the  force  of  His  love  for  us. You, on  the  contrary,  are tardy in  suffering  anything  for  Christ. He also  went before in  order  to  teach  you  to  show  by  example  what you would  wish  to  teach  by  words.

II. He revealed  His  approaching  passion  to  His  disciples: "And  the  Son  of  man  shall  be  betrayed  to  the