Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/392

 combat wolves. How true  it  is,  that  "the  weak  things of  this  world  hath  God  chosen,  that  He  may  confound the  strong." (i Cor.  i.  27.)  He,  moreover,  admonishes His ministers  to  be  harmless  and  meek  as  sheep,  not returning evil  for  evil,  but  employing  themselves  entirely for the  benefit  of  their  neighbors.

II. " Be  ye,  therefore,  wise  as  serpents,  and  simple  as doves." Thus He  wishes  the  serpent's  wisdom  to  be united  with  the  simplicity  of  the  dove  in  the  character  of His  Apostles. %He requires  that  they  should  be  prudent, in seizing  proper  occasions  and  times  of  doing  good  to their  neighbors;  simple,  in  acting  with  sincerity  and purity of  intention  without  double-dealing,  acrimony  or malice. "Thy eyes  are  as  those  of  doves,"  says  the spouse in  the  Canticle,  that  is,  pure  and  simple. Let these be  the  model  of  your  rectitude  of  intention.

III. " Going,  preach,  saying,  the  kingdom  of  Heaven is  at  hand;  and  going  forth,  they  preached  that  they should  do  penance." (Matt. x.  7,  and  Mark,  vi.  12.) Their discourses  did  not  turn  on  vain,  curious  or  trivial matters, but  on  subjects,  the  most  interesting  in  a spiritual  point  of  view. Such ought  to  be  the  endeavors, and such  the  method  of  preaching,  of  all  those,  who  are entrusted with  the  care  of  souls;  they  should  speak  inwardly  to  the  heart,  and  aim  at  the  spiritual  profit  of their  hearers,  and  not  preach  themselves. "Let your applause,"  says  St. Jerome, "  be  the  tears  of  your  auditory."

I. When  the  disciples  returned  from  preaching,  they felt, as  the  holy  Fathers  explain  the  passage,  in  some