Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/470

 conceived, it  bringeth  forth  sin,  but  sin,  when  it  is  completed, begetteth  death."  (James  i.  15.)  The  infirmity  of  our  nature  is  an  incentive  to  sin,  but  injures  no  one  but those  who  willingly  yield  to  it.  In  regard  to  those  who resist  and  fight  manfully,  this  infirmity  will  increase their  merit.  "  Gladly,  therefore,"  writes  St.  Paul,  "  will I glory  in  my  infirmities,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may dwell in  me."    (2  Cor.  xii.  9.)

II. " His  sisters  therefore  sent  to  Him  saying,  Lord, behold  he  whom  Thou  lovest  is  sick." (John xi.  3.) They do  not  prescribe  to  Him  what  they  wish  Him  to do;  to  a  loving  friend  it  is  sufficient  to  intimate  our  necessities. Such ought  to  be  the  nature  of  our  prayers, particularly in  regard  to  health  and  other  temporal  blessings, for  we  do  not  know  in  such  cases  what  is  expedient for  our  salvation. Christ did  not  immediately  go, but delayed  two  whole  days,  to  exercise  their  faith  and patience, and  to  render  the  miracle  more  notable. So He often  acts  with  you;  "  the  labor  of  the  combat,"  says St. Gregory,  "  is  prolonged,  in  order  that  the  crown  may be  greater."

III. Some attempted  to  dissuade  Christ  from  returning into  Judea,  to  cure  Lazarus,  because  the  Jews  had sought for  him  to  stone  him  to  death. "Then, Thomas said  to  his  fellow  disciples,  let  us  also  go,  that  we  may die  with  him." Such ought  to  be  the  zeal  and  courage of apostolical  men:  they  ought  to  contemn  every  danger, and even  life  itself,  when  the  good  of  souls  and  the  glory of God  are  in  question. You ought  often  to  make  such fervent acts  as  these,  in  order  that  if  persecution  rise against you,  you  may  be  able  "  to  stand  in  the  day  of battle"  (Ps.  cxxxii.  9),  and  to  say  with  St.  Paul,  "  Neither do  I  count  my  life  more  precious  than  myself." (Acts xx. 24.)