Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/376

 to God,  as  well  as  to  our  neighbors,  require. They desire to  make  continual  progress  in  virtue  and  perfection. They wish  perfect  justice  to  exist  among  all  mankind, and do  all  in  their  power  to  gain  that  object. Finally, they hunger  and  thirst  after  Christ  our  Lord,  who  is  our "justice and  sanctification,"  (i  Cor.  i.  30.)  by  a  lively faith and  interior  relish  of  His  presence. Examine yourself on  these  points,  and  discover  whether  you  do  not rather loathe  justice,  than  hunger  and  thirst  after  it,  and ardently seek  those  things  only,  which  the  world  loves and admires.

II. During the  whole  of  His  life,  Christ  sought  nothing but  the  accomplishment  of  His  Father's  will. "My food," He  says,  "  is  to  do  the  will  of  Him  that  sent  Me." (John iv.  34.)  When  He  hung  upon  the  cross,  He  exclaimed, "  I  thirst,"  (lb.  xix.  28.) — that  is,  for  the  sanctification and  salvation  of  all  mankind,  for  whom  He  died. Such ought  to  be  your  hunger  and  thirst,  and  not  the appetite of  the  wicked  whose  God  is  their  belly. (Philip, iii. 19.)

III. Consider the  reward  of  those,  who  hunger  and thirst after  justice;  "They  shall  be  filled." God will bestow special  graces  and  spiritual  comforts  on  them during this  life,  and  in  the  next,  they  will  enjoy  the  beatific vision. " I  shall  be  satisfied,"  says  the  Psalmist, " when  Thy  glory  shall  appear." (Ps. xvi.  15,)  Reflect  how this heavenly  satiety  ought  to  be  desired. It never  cloys, and endures  for  all  eternity. Examine your  dispositions, whether you  would  rather  enjoy  yourself  in  this  world or in  the  next;  you  cannot  enjoy  the  happiness  of  both.