Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/399

 of the  just,  and  by  that  means  secure  a  short  and  easy passage to  heaven. Offer yourself  frequently  to  God,  and be willing  to  endure  every  pain,  and  even  the  loss  of  life, and all  its  goods,  in  His  holy  service. Imitate the  example of  so  many  glorious  martyrs,  who  have  died  for  their faith, by  continually  practicing  virtue,  by  being  constant in  your  faith  and  in  the  exercise  of  your  religious duties.

I. Consider  how  great  was  the  multitude  that  followed Christ into  the  desert,  led  thither  by  the  fame  of  His miracles and  doctrine. " He  had  compassion  on  them, and  He  began  to  teach  them  many  things." (Mark vi. 34.)  He  first  gives  them  spiritual  food,  and  then  corporal nourishment. You must  retire  into  the  wilderness, that is,  you  must  leave  the  noise  and  folly  of  the  world,  and form a  solitude  in  your  own  heart,  if  you  wish  to  receive the spiritual  food  of  our  Lord. " I  will  lead  her  into  the wilderness,  and  I  will  speak  to  her  heart,"  says  God  of  a faithful  soul. Observe, also,  the  charitable  care  of  the Apostles for  the  people:  "Send  away  the  multitudes," they say,  "that  going  into  the  town,  they  may  buy  themselves victuals." (Matt. xiv.  15.)  Although  the  request proceeded from  a  principle  of  charity  in  the  Apostles, their Master  had  already  determined  to  surpass  it,  and to give  a  still  brighter  example  of  it.

II. Christ having  asked  His  disciples,  what  food  they had to  set  before  the  people;  they  answered,  "we  have here  but  five  loaves  and  two  fishes." These were  all  the provisions that  the  Apostles  possessed;  a  few  loaves  and