Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/394



I. In  the  Gospel  of  to-day,  Christ  is  recorded  to  have cured a  person,  who  "was  deaf  and  dumb." (Mark vii. 32.)  Consider  yourself  to  be  of  this  character  in  a  spiritual point  of  view,  as  you  really  are,  if  you  be  deaf  to God's  grace  and  silent  in  the  Divine  praises. How often have  you  resisted  His  holy  inspirations,  exciting; you to  compunction,  patience,  humility  and,  in  a  word, to perfection. How well  might  he  address  you,  by  the mouth of  His  Prophet,  "  I  called,  and  you  did  not answer;  I  spoke,  and  you  did  not  hear." (Is. lxv.  12.) Reflect, also,  how  dumb  you  are  in  speaking  of  God,  and of Divine  things,  whilst  you  feel  that  much  fruit  might be derived  both  by  you  and  others,  were  you  to  engage oftener in  spiritual  conversation. You may  truly  say  with the Prophet,  but  in  a  different  sense,  "  I  cannot  speak, for  I  am  a  child "  (Jer.  i.  6),  in  what  regards  spiritual matters.

II. He will  visit  you  in  the  Eucharist  to-day,  of  Whom it is  said  in  the  Gospel;  "  He  hath  made  both  the  deaf to  hear,  and  the  dumb  to  speak." (Mark, vii.  37.)  If  He did  this  in  a  corporal  sense,  how  much  more  willing  will He be  to  do  it  in  a  spiritual  sense,  if  you  be  prepared  to receive  Him. He will  open  your  heart  to  hear  His  voice, and make  your  tongue  eloquent  in  His  praises  to  the edification  of  others,    "The  Lord  hath  given  me  a