Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/439

 guage of  the  prophet,  by  Christ  Himself. It purifies  us from  all  sin,  its  effects  are  not  confined  to  those,  who  approach the  sacraments  first,  but  it  is  communicated  to  all, without exception,  who  approach  them,  with  worthy  dispositions. Meditate on  the  benefits  resulting  from  their institution.

II. Around this  pond,  "lay  a  great  multitude  of  sick, of  blind,  of  lame,  of  withered,  waiting  for  the  moving  of the  water." (John v.  3.)  God  wishes  us  to  wait  with patience for  His  favors;  hence  David  says,  "with  expectation I  have  waited  for  the  Lord,  and  He  was  attentive to  me." (Ps. xxxix.  2.)  Among  other  persons,  who were afflicted,  "there  was  a  certain  man  there,  that  had been  eight  and  thirty  years  under  his  infirmity." (John v. 5.)  His  complaint  was  the  palsy. The spiritual  palsy of the  soul,  is  a  relaxation  of  its  nerves  and  faculties,  a want  of  spiritual  vigor  and  life,  and  a  decay  of  energy. Examine how  long  you  have  labored  under  this  infirmity, and  seek  a  remedy  for  it  in  the  holy  sacraments  of the  Church.

III. Jesus proposed  His  cure  to  the  sick  man,  and  said to him,  "  Wilt  thou  be  made  whole." God can  render  us just  in  His  sight,  by  His  own  power  alone,  if  He  please, but He  does  not  do  it,  without  our  consent. " He  who made  thee,  without  thy  own  concurrence,"  writes  St. Augustine,  "will  not  save  thee  without  it." Examine whether you  have  the  will  to  take  advantage  of  God's concurrence;  your  salvation  depends  upon  it.

I. This  sick  man  confessed  his  want  of  power,  for  he