Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/507

 II. The strayed  sheep  is  a  sinner,  who  leaving  the society of  the  just,  and  disobeying  the  commands  of  the Shepherd, wanders  wherever  he  pleases. He is  a  most foolish and  wretched  man,  he  does  not  understand  the happiness, which  he  enjoyed  under  the  Good  Pastor;  he is  indifferent  to  the  spiritual  food  which  he  once  received; he  prefers  such  as  is  pleasing  to  flesh  and  blood; he does  not  hear  nor  follow  the  call  of  the  Shepherd;  he considers  the  ways  of  mortification  and  the  cross  too hard and  difficult,  and  prefers  to  wander  through  devious and  dangerous  paths  of  his  own  will,  amidst  rocks and precipices. "All we,  like  sheep,"  says  the  Prophet, " have  gone  astray,  every  one  hath  turned  aside  into  his own  way." (Is. liii.  6.)  Reflect  how  often  you  have done so.

III. The goodness  of  the  Shepherd  induces  him  to seek  for  His  strayed  sheep. He sought  them  Himself in the  first  place,  by  His  exemplary  life  and  doctrine, during the  thirty-three  years,  in  which  "  He  conversed with  men." He now  continually  seeks  them  by  holy  inspirations, directors,  pious  books,  and  by  the  whole economy of  His  infallible  Church. When He  has  found His lost  sheep,  He  kindly  and  affectionately  conducts  it back  again  to  His  fold. O Lord,  thus  receive  me,  and conduct me  into  Thy  sacred  fold. " I  have  gone  astray like  a  sheep  that  is  lost,  seek  Thy  servant  because  I  have not  forgotten  Thy  commandments." (Ps. cxviii.  179.)

I. "Two  men  went  up  into  the  Temple  to  pray," (Luke xviii.  10.)    Ponder  the  pride  of  the  Pharisee. Be-