Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/244

 self from  you. You must  seek  Him  with  sincerity  and ardent affection,  in  order  "  that  you  may  find  Him whom  your  soul  loveth." (Cant. iii.  4.)

II. Though angels  appeared  and  asked  Mary,  "  Woman, why  weepest  thou?" (John xx.  13),  they  could  not  satisfy her mind  and  affection. No worldly  comfort,  nothing  in fact  but  God  Himself,  can  satisfy  the  soul  that  truly seeks God. Christ assumed  the  appearance  of  a  gardener and  presented  Himself  before  her;  Magdalene immediately applied  to  Him  and  asked,  "  If  thou  hast taken  Him  away,  tell  me  where  thou  hast  laid  Him;  and I  will  take  Him  away." (John xx.  15.)  How  great  was the force  of  her  love! No place,  no  danger,  no  toil,  could prevent her  from  seeking  Him. Examine if  your  love be of  so  sterling  a  character.

III. "Jesus saith  to  her,  Mary." Christ often  conceals Himself  from  His  servants,  and  seems  to  be  at  a great  distance  from  them,  when  in  reality  He  is  very near. He acts  thus  to  inflame  our  desire  and  love;  but He discovers  Himself  at  last,  and  as  Sara  remarked, "after tears  and  weeping,  He  poureth  in  joyfulness."' (Tob. iii.  22.)  Beg  your  Saviour  to  be  so  familiar  with you as  interiorly  to  call  you  by  your  name,  and  so  to speak  to  your  heart  that  you  may  know  His  voice,  and with holy  Magdalene,  be  more  and  more  inflamed  with His divine  love.

I. While  the  holy  women  who  had  visited  the  sepulchre were  returning  to  the  city,  Christ  appeared  to  them on the  way,  and  said,  "  All  hail!" (Matt, xxviii.  9.)  Ponder here  the  goodness  of  God,  who  affords  comfort  at  a