Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/65

 sin; and  the  second  person  voluntarily  offered  Himself  as an  atonement  for  that  guilt. And when  His  Father  said : " Sacrifice  and  oblation  I  did  not  desire,"  then  He  said, " behold  I  come." (Ps. xxxix.  7.)  Admire  this  voluntary self-oblation of  the  Son,  and  admire,  100,  the  Father's acceptance  of  it. O, ineffable  effect  of  charity! To redeem His  slave,  the  Father  did  not  refuse  to  deliver  up His  only  Son. Give thanks  to  both,  and  uniting  with Them the  Holy  Ghost,  expand  your  heart  in  sentiments of gratitude.

III. What would  have  become  of  you  "had  not  Christ acted  as  your  mediator?  You  would  have  remained  involved in  all  the  consequences  of  sin,  and  you  would  besides have  been  subjected  to  the  pains  of  hell.  So  that  you might  justly  say,  "unless  the  Lord  had  been  my  helper, my soul  had  dwelt  in  hell."  (Ps.  xciii.  17.)  Learn hence  to  esteem  the  benefit  conferred  on  you;  and  since God  has  given  Himself  to  you,  do  you  give  yourself  to God.  Say  with  the  Royal  Prophet,  "  my  heart  is  ready,  O, God,  my  heart  is  ready."  (Ps.  cvii.  2.)  Do  not  recall  or take  back  the  gift  which  you  have  offered  to  God.

I. Consider  the  admirable  perfections  of  God  displayed  in  this  decree. His infinite  wisdom  dictated  that our moral  evils  should  be  cured  by  their  opposite  virtues. Man sinned  through  pride,  vainly  affecting  an equality  with  God. The tempter  told  our  first  parents in Paradise;  "You  shall  be  as  gods." (Gen. iii.  5.)  This vice was  to  be  cured  by  the  Redeemer,  who  "debased Himself,  taking  the  form  of  a  servant,  being  made  in  the likeness  of  men." (Phil. ii.  7.)    Detest  pride,  which  has