Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/373

 transitory enjoyments  of  this  world. Ponder the  excellence of  this  kingdom,  its  riches,  glory,  and  perpetuity. "The eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  hath  it entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  what  things  God  hath prepared  for  them  that  love  him." (i Cor.  ii.  9.)  Hence, St. Gregory  Nazianzen  had  reason  to  say,  "  Happy  is  he, who  buys  Christ,  though  the  purchase  cost  him  all  his goods  and  fortune."

I. "  Blessed  are  the  meek." (Matt. v.  4.)  After  poverty of  spirit,  that  is,  contempt  of  the  world  and  its  desires, follows  meekness,  as  a  child  does  its  parent. The acts of  this  virtue  are  chiefly  three:  1. To bridle  the passion of  anger  and  revenge;  and  when  it  is  your  duty to display  zeal,  to  do  it  without  any  perturbation  either exterior or  interior. 2. To  be  affable  to  all,  and  troublesome to  none,  neither  in  word  nor  action. 3. The  third act of  meekness  is,  not  to  oppose  or  resist  injuries  with violence, even  when  you  may  lawfully  do  so,  but  to  suffer contempt  with  peace  and  tranquillity  of  mind. Examine yourself on  these  heads,  and  reform  whatever stands in  need  of  correction.

II. Christ has  given  the  world  a  most  brilliant  example of  meekness. Speaking of  the  future  Messias,  the Prophet says:  "  He  shall  not  contend,  nor  cry  out,  neither shall  any  man  hear  His  voice  in  the  streets." " The bruised  reed  He  shall  not  break  and  smoking  flax  He shall  not  extinguish." (Matt. xii.  19;  Is.  xlii.  4.)  "He shall  not  be  sad  nor  turbulent." St. Peter,  speaking  of him,  observes:  "  When  He  was  reviled,  He  did  not  revile;