Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/422

 St. Augustine observes. Wherefore, on  your  part,  "delay not  to  be  converted  to  the  Lord  and  defer  it  not from  day  to  day." (Ecclus. v.  8.)

II. In the  fervor  of  her  penance  she  displays  four  eminent virtues,  in  which  we  must  imitate  her. 1. Her faith in  the  divinity  of  Christ,  and  His  power  to  forgive sin, was  most  lively. 2. Her  humility  equalled  her faith; for  she  willingly  suffered  confusion,  for  "she  stood behind  at  His  feet,"  because  she  considered  herself  unworthy  of  His  sight. 3. Her  love  was  extreme,  and  she expressed it  by  tears,  by  embracing  our  Lord's  feet,  and by anointing  them. 4. She  had  a  sovereign  contempt  of the  world;  she  made  her  precious  ointments,  her  very hair, and  eyes  subservient  to  her  penance,  because  they had before  been  the  instruments  of  her  vanity  and  sin, and she  wished  to  punish  herself  in  those  things,  by which  she  had  sinned.

III. Consider the  rash  judgment  of  the  Pharisees  in condemning  Christ  for  suffering  Himself  to  be  touched by a  sinful  woman. Learn hence,  that  there  is  no  action, however holy,  that  is  not  liable  to  be  censured:  so  true it is  that  "  the  sons  of  men  are  liars  in  their  balances," (Ps. lxi.  10)  that  is,  in  their  judgments. Accustom yourself to  disregard  the  enemies  of  true  piety  and  solid devotion.

I. Consider  Christ's  wisdom  in  reproving  the  Pharisee. He reprimands  him  with  mildness  and  sweetness,  as  all men in  authority  ought  to  do,  in  order  to  avoid  giving