Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/469

 which it  carries  is  corruption  itself,  so  is  the  body  often adorned and  covered  with  the  richest  clothes,  whilst  the soul which  it  contains  is  abominable  in  the  sight  of  God; Christ often  comes  and  touches  the  bier,  that  is,  afflicts the body  with  some  sickness,  and  by  this  means  brings the sinner  to  life  again.

II. " And  he  that  was  dead  sat  up,  and  began  to  speak, and  He  delivered  him  to  his  mother." What joy  must have flowed  into  this  widow's  heart! How the  company must have  been  astonished! Thus a  sinner  who  returns to the  life  of  grace  and  is  restored  to  his  spiritual Mother the  Church,  begins  to  speak  of  such  things  as belong  to  God,  confesses  his  sins,  asks  pardon,  and  glorifies God.

III. "And there  came  a  fear  on  them  all,  and  they  glorified Him." From the  astonishing  miracle  which  they had witnessed,  there  arose  in  the  by-standers  a  fear  of offending  a  God  of  such  infinite  power,  a  God  "  that killeth  and  maketh  alive  again;  He  bringeth  down  to hell,  and  bringeth  back  again." (i Kings,  ii.  6.)  Reflect how necessary  it  is  for  you  to  possess  this  holy  fear. For "  the  fear  of  the  Lord  hateth  evil." (Prov. viii.  13.) And "  they  that  fear  the  Lord  will  seek  after  the  things that  are  well  pleasing  to  Him." (Ecclus. ii.  19.)

I. "  There  was  a  certain  man  sick,  named  Lazarus,  in Bethania." (John xi.  1.)  The  death  of  Lazarus  proceeded from  a  languishing  disease. So also  does  the death of  the  soul  ensue  from  tepidity  and  decay  of  spirit, if they  be  not  cured  in  time. " When  concupiscence  hath