Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/407

 Him. " Lord,  if  it  be  Thou,"  he  exclaims,  "  bid  me come  to  Thee  upon  the  waters." (Matt. xiv.  28.)  A true  lover  cannot  bear  to  be  separated  from  the  object of his  love,  and  overcomes  every  difficulty  and  every danger that  prevent  their  mutual  communication. We may readily  apply  to  St.  Peter  on  this  occasion  the words of  the  Canticle,  "  Many  waters  cannot  quench charity,  neither  can  the  floods  drown  it." (Cant. viii.  7.) Examine whether  your  love  of  God  be  of  this  character,  or whether  you  do  not  rather  suffer  yourself  to  be  withdrawn from  His  service,  when  the  least  difficulty  presents itself.

II. When St.  Peter  was  told  to  come,  he  immediately threw himself  into  the  sea:  "But  seeing  the  wind  strong he  was  afraid,  and  when  he  began  to  sink,  he  cried  out saying,  Lord  save  me." (Matt. xiv.  30.)  Thus  God sometimes permits  us  almost  to  sink  under  our  temptations, in  order  that  we  may  be  induced  to  call  upon Him with  increased  fervor. At length  He  stretched  out His hand  to  Peter,  and  would  not  suffer  him  to  sink. So He  will  act  toward  us,  according  to  the  Psalmist, " When  he  shall  fall,  he  shall  not  be  bruised,  for  the Lord  putteth  His  hand  under  him." (Ps. xxxvi.  24.) And, "  He  sent  from  on  high  and  took  me,  and  received me  out  of  many  waters." (Ps. xvii.  17.)

III. Consider the  mystical  sense  of  walking  on  the  sea. "The world  is  like  a  sea,"  says  St.  Augustine;  "if  you love  God,  you  walk  upon  it,  but  if  you  love  this  world the  sea  will  swallow  you  up." Examine, whether  you love God  or  the  world;  for  it  is  a  dreadful  thing  to  be swallowed  up  by  this  sea. Take care  then  to  walk  over and trample  on  it,  and  remember  the  remark  of  the  same Saint, "  Every  man's  inordinate  desire  is  his  tempest."