Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/229

 God, why  hast  Thou  forsaken  Me?"  A  loud  cry  and  a shrill  voice  are  signs  of  excessive  grief.  Our  Lord  was left  alone  in  His  sufferings  for  a  long  time.  He  was destitute  of  every  kind  of  comfort  which  might  arise from  the  inferior  part  of  His  soul;  He  was  forsaken  by His  own  people,  even  by  His  disciples;  He  foresaw, besides,  that  the  greater  part  of  mankind  would  forsake Him,  although  He  endured  all  these  torments  for  their •salvation.  At  this  awful  moment  the  oracle  of  the  prophet Jeremias  was  fulfilled,  "Great  as  the  sea  is  thy destruction; who  shall  heal  thee?"    (Lament,  ii.  13.)

II. Christ might  have  easily  freed  Himself  from  this interior anguish,  had  He  chosen  to  do  so,  by  surrendering Himself  to  the  joys  of  the  beatific  vision  which  possessed the  superior  part  of  His  soul;  but  He  refused  to do  this,  in  order  that  in  His  sufferings  He  might  reduce Himself to  our  level  in  all  things. He wished  also  to instruct  us  how  to  bear  desolation  and  aridity  in  prayer and that  trouble  of  mind  from  which  the  greatest  virtue does not  exempt  us. Learn, therefore,  on  similar  occasions, to  stand  resolutely  collected  within  yourself,  to have  recourse  to  prayer,  and  patiently  to  await  the  assistance of  God:  "  For  it  shall  surely  come,  and  it  shall not  be  slack." (Habac. ii.  3.)

III. If the  eternal  Father  left  His  Son  in  this  state  of desolation,  you  have  no  reason  to  be  surprised  or  to complain  if  He  sometimes  seem  to  abandon  you,  and  to withdraw  all  consolation  from  you. Such desolation  is frequently  a  sign  of  His  love,  sent  to  try  your  constancy and increase  your  merit. Hence, David  prayed,  "  Prove me,  O  Lord!  and  try  me;  burn  my  reins  and  my  heart." (Ps xxv.  2.)  Offer  yourself  to  God  in  the  same  spirit, and only  beg  with  the  same  prophet  that  "  He  would not  utterly  forsake  you." (Ps. cxviii.  8.)