Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/349



I. "And  when  Jesus  passed  on  from  thence,  He  saw  a man  sitting  in  the  custom  house,  named  Matthew,  and He  saith  to  him,  follow  Me." (Matt. ix.  9.)  Great  was the force  of  this  call,  which  was  able  to  withdraw  a  man from his  riches:  and  yet  the  same  call,  perhaps,  would not be  forcible  enough  to  withdraw  you  from  smaller impediments. Who can  despair  of  salvation,  when  he sees  public  sinners  taken  out  of  a  custom  house,  assumed not only  to  the  friendship  of  God,  but  raised  to  the  highest dignity  of  the  apostleship."  Truly, "  His  tender  mercies are  over  all  His  works."    (Ps.  cxliv.  9.)

II. Christ did  not  refuse  to  eat  with  Matthew  and other publicans,  in  order  that  He  might  gain  them,  although the  hypocritical  Pharisees  murmured  at  it. Learn from  this  that  there  is  nothing  so  holy,  as  to  escape the censures  of  the  wicked. Hence, if  on  any  occasion  it be  your  fate  to  suffer  reprehension  or  slander  for  having performed good  actions,  remember  that  "The  disciple  is not  above  his  Master,  nor  the  servant  above  his  Lord." (Matt. x.  24.)

III. Consider the  mild  reply  which  Christ  made  to  His calumniators, "They  that  are  in  health  need  not  a  physician, but  they  that  are  sick;  for  I  am  not  come  to  call the  just  but  sinners. "  (Matt.  ix.  12.)  Since  Christ  presents Himself  to  your  consideration  as  a  physician,  reveal your distress,  wounds  and  diseases  to  him:  for,  as  St. Augustine  observes,  "No  disease  is  incurable  to  the Omnipotent  physician;  only  permit  yourself  to  be  cured