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 that, not  content  with  bearing  what  men  have  borne of old,  we  should,  by  voluntary  chastisement,  increase at once  our  labor  and  reward. Whereas, alas! we rather imitate  the  sons  of  Ruben  and  of  Gad,  who were content,  we  are  told,  with  lands  to  the  East  of the  Jordan,  and  shirked  the  work  of  conquering Palestine. A generous  share  of  this  world's  gifts  is  all we worldlings  ask:  paradise  we  leave  to  monks  and nuns. If Christ  invite  us  to  Jerusalem  to  a  feast  or ball,  we  accompany  Him  with  a  will,  but  when  He speaks  of  being  scourged  and  crucified,  we  follow Him no  longer — like  the  Apostles,  we  no  longer  understand the  things  He  says. Like the  rich  young man in  the  Gospel,  we  would  all  love  to  be  Apostles, but when  we  learn  that  it  involves  the  giving  up  of all  to  follow  Christ's  blood-stained  footprints,  we sadly  turn  away. He cries  to  us:  "  Blessed  are  the poor  and  meek;  blessed  are  they  that  mourn  and suffer  persecution  for  justice'  sake,"  but  we  cannot, we will  not  understand  the  things  that  are  said. There is  not  a  single  one  of  us,  perhaps,  that  does not love  the  Lord,  but  we  love  Him  at  what  we  are pleased to  call  His  best,  we  love  Him  as  He  calms the winds  and  the  seas,  or  stands  transfigured  on Mount  Thabor,  or  feasting  with  the  publicans  and sinners; we  love  Christ  everywhere  except  Christ crucified. Like the  Jews  on  Calvary,  we  stand  before the Saviour  and  cry  to  Him:  "  Come  down  from  the cross,  only  come  down  from  the  cross,  and  we  will believe  in  you." Ah! it is  so  hard  to  see  things  as God  sees  them — to  realize  the  woes  in  store  for  them