Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/167

 chief priests  and  to  the  scribes."  He  had  communicated to  them  this  knowledge  before,  but  not  so  explicitly.  He made  frequent  mention  of  His  passion,  though  so  terrible in  itself,  because  He  always  bore  it  in  His  mind;  and even  amidst  all  the  glories  of  His  transfiguration  He treated  "  of  His  decease,  which  He  should  accomplish  in Jerusalem."  (Luke  ix.  31.)  Endeavor,  on  your  part,  to entertain  a  pious  and  feeling  recollection  of  this  passion; it  will  console  your  suffering  Saviour,  and  induce  Him  to bestow  on  you  all  the  treasures  of  His  redemption.

III. " And  they  understood  none  of  these  things." (Luke xviii.  34.)  The  Apostles  were  as  yet  worldly  men, and bent  upon  honors  and  preferments. There was  a "  strife  among  them,  which  of  them  should  seem  to  be greater." (Luke xxii.  24.)  They  consequently  understood nothing  of  the  mystery  of  the  Cross,  or  of  the  advantages resulting  from  humility  and  patience  under  reproach. Divest yourself  of  all  undue  worldly  affections if you  desire  to  comprehend  the  divine  secrets  of  the Cross. Ponder the  severe  rebuke  which  Christ  gave  to St.  Peter  when  He  dissuaded  him  from  suffering  the ignominy of  His  passion:  "Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan; thou  art  a  scandal  unto  me,  because  thou  savorest  not the  things  that  are  of  God,  but  the  things  that  are  of men." (Matt. xvi.  23.)  Give  the  same  answer  to  selflove  when  it  attempts  to  dissuade  you  from  imitating

I. When  our  Lord  approached  Jerusalem,  He  sent  two of His  disciples  to  bring  Him  an  ass,  on  which  He  intended to  ride  into  the  city. On other  occasions  He  was