Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/256

 therefore, your  mind  and  heart  are  oppressed,  enter  thou into the  rock  with  Isaias,  "  and  hide  thee  in  the  pits, from  the  face  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord." (Is. ii.  10.)  Remember that  that  "rock  is  Christ,"  and  those  pits  His sacred wounds. Remain, therefore,  "  in  the  cliffs  of  the rock,  in  the  hollow  places  of  the  wall." (Cant. ii.  14.)

I. In  the  Gospel  of  this  day  Christ  says  of  Himself, "  I am  the  good  Shepherd." (John x.  11.)  Ponder  how  well He merits  this  title. Jacob was  a  good  shepherd,  and  he says  of  himself,  "  Day  and  night  was  I  parched  with  heat and  with  frost,  and  sleep  departed  from  my  eyes." (Gen. xxxi.  40.)  But  Christ  was  still  a  better  pastor,  for after suffering  these  heats  and  colds. He finally  laid  down His life  for  His  sheep. He even  descended  to  their  level and below  them,  for  He  verified  the  oracle  of  Isaias, " He  shall  be  led  as  a  sheep  to  the  slaughter." (Is. liii. 7.)  But  what  shepherd  ever  fed  His  sheep  with  His  own blood? In order  to  elevate  them  to  a  supernatural  state of happiness,  Christ  has  done  so. He gave  them  His flesh for  food  and  His  blood  for  drink. Who would  not wish to  be  guided  by  such  a  shepherd?

II. This divine  shepherd  will  visit  you  to-day,  to  feed you, and  to  defend  you  from  the  wolves  of  hell. There is no  part  of  a  shepherd's  duty  which  He  does  not  perform most  willingly. Hence He  says  by  His  prophet, " Behold,  I  Myself  will  seek  My  sheep:  and  will  visit  them as  the  shepherd  visits  his  flock:  I  will  feed  them  in  the most  fruitful  pastures;  I  will  seek  that  which  was  lost,