Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/26

 light, and  light  for  darkness."  (Is.  v.  20.)  We  often  make virtues  of  our  vices,  and  real  virtue  we  consider  folly. To  remedy  this  moral  defect  in  man,  the  eternal  Wisdom of  the  Father  descended  from  heaven  to  be  our  Master, and  teach  us  the  ways  of  truth.  "Ye  call  me  master  and Lord," He  says  of  Himself,  "  and  ye  say  well,  for  so  I am."    (John  xiii.  13.)

II. How willingly  and  attentively  you  ought  to  listen to this  Master,  "in  whom  are  hidden  all  the  treasures  of wisdom  and  knowledge!" (Col. ii.  3.)  "The  principal incitement  to  learn,"  says  St.  Ambrose,  "is  the  excellency of  the  master." What master  can  be  more  excellent than Christ  Himself,  who  being  the  infinite  and  uncreated wisdom of  His  Father,  can  neither  deceive  nor  be  deceived? "The Queen  of  the  South  came  from  the  ends of  the  earth  to  hear  the  wisdom  of  Solomon;  and  behold, a  greater  than  Solomon  is  here." (Matt. xii.  42.)  He  is ready  in  the  Eucharist  to  receive  you,  and  teach  you  the science of  Saints,  and  the  ways  of  salvation,  if  you  present yourself  with  proper  dispositions.

III. A due  preparation  is  necessary  on  your  part,  if you  wish  to  listen  with  profit  to  the  lessons  of  this  divine master. He requires  that  His  scholars  should  be,  first, pure from  all  sin;  "for  wisdom  will  not  enter  into  a  malicious soul,  nor  dwell  in  a  body  subject  to  sin:"  (Wis.  i. 4.)  2. Humble and  little  in  their  own  eyes;  for  He  says to His  Father,  "Thou  hast  hidden  these  things  from  the wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  revealed  them  to  little  ones;" (Matt. xi.  25.)  3. Mortified and  detached  from  worldly things; for,  "whom  shall  He  teach  knowledge?  and whom  shall  He  make  to  understand  the  hearing?  Those who  are  weaned  from  the  milk,  who  are  drawn  away from  the  breasts." (Is. xxviii.  9.)  Take  care,  then, that you  be  thus  disposed  and  prepared  to  meet  Him.