Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/467

 miracle by  taking  only  three  of  His  disciples  with  Him and by  driving  the  musicians  and  the  multitude  out  of  the house. Learn to  sequester  yourself  from  the  noise  and rabble of  worldly  thoughts  if  you  desire  to  live  for Christ. "Wisdom, says  the  sea,  is  not  in  me." (Job xxviii. 14.)  By  the  sea,  says  St.  Gregory,  interpreting this passage,  "  is  meant  the  world."

III. " Christ,  taking  her  by  the  hand,  cried  out,  saying: Maid,  arise." (Luke viii.  54.)  Thus  He  raises  up  sinners from their  sins,  holds  them  by  the  hand,  and  directs them to  good  works. " And  He  bade  them  to  give  her to  eat,"  to  show  you  that  those  who  rise  from  a  state  of sin  must  receive  the  spiritual  food  of  the  Eucharist,  to prevent  them  from  relapsing. Take care,  then,  that  you receive this  food  often,  and  in  a  proper  manner,  that  you may live  forever.

I. "Jesus  went  into  a  city  called  Naim,  and  behold  a dead  man  was  carried  out,  the  only  son  of  his  mother." (Luke vii.  11.)  This  was  a  young  man  in  the  flower  of youth;  learn  hence,  that  no  age  is  secure  against  the shafts of  death. Imagine that  this  young  man  addresses you in  the  language  Of  Ecclesiasticus:  "Remember  my judgment,  for  thine  also  shall  be  so;  yesterday  for  me, and  to-day  for  thee." (Ecclus. xxxviii.  22.)  Examine what would  become  of  you,  were  you  to  die  this  very day. This young  man  died  to  God  in  a  spiritual  sense sooner, than  others  who  are  older;  for,  as  St.  Jerome  says, "Youth has  many  conflicts  of  the  body  to  undergo."