Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/251

 xx. 19.) This  was  the  sixth  time  that  Christ  appeared on  the  day  of  His  resurrection,  to  console  and  comfort His  friends.  Ponder  the  circumstances  of  this  last  apparition. 1.  It  was  late  in  the  evening,  to  teach  you that  you  ought  to  await  with  patience  the  pleasure  of your  Lord.  2.  He  entered  whilst  the  doors  were  shut, to  show  the  powers  of  His  glorified  body.  You  must shut  the  inlets  of  your  senses  if  you  wish  to  entertain Christ  as  He  wishes  to  be  entertained.  You  must  be,  in the  language  of  the  Canticles,  "  a  garden  enclosed  and  a fountain  sealed  up."  (Cant. iv. 12.) 3.  He  stood  in  the midst  of  His  disciples,  as  a  master  among  His  scholars,  as a  shepherd  amongst  His  flock,  and  like  the  sun  in  the centre  of  the  planetary  world.  Stand  thus,  O  Lord!  in the  centre  of  my  soul;  teach,  feed,  and  enlighten  it.

II. He says  to  His  disciples,  "Peace  be  to  you." He does not  wish  them  fame,  nor  power,  nor  riches,  nor  honors, but  peace  with  God,  with  their  neighbor  and  themselves. Learn to  appreciate  this  peace  above  all  earthly goods, and  to  purchase  it  at  any  expense. Pray that " the  peace  of  God,  which  surpasseth  all  understanding," may "keep  your  hearts  and  minds  in  Christ  Jesus." (Phil. iv.  7.)

III. To confirm  their  faith  in  His  resurrection  still more, "He  asks  them  if  they  have  any  food;  "and  they offered Him  a  piece  of  a  broiled  fish,  and  a  honey-comb." (Luke  xxiv.  42.)  To  convince  His  Apostles  that  He  was no  phantom,  He  ate.  Observe  what  pains  Christ  took  to convince  His  Apostles  and  all  mankind  of  the  fact  of  His resurrection.  He  knew  that  the  whole  system  of  His divine  doctrine  was  built  upon  it,  and  He  always  appeals to  it  as  to  the  test  of  His  mission.  The  incredulity  and obstinacy  of  the  Apostles  and  disciples  on  this  subject, observes  one  of  the  holy  Fathers,  have  increased  our