Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/264

 when we  know  that  her  anguish  and  His  agony  are undergone for  us;  that,  of  every  pang  she  feels,  we are  the  cause;  that  every  suffering  of  His  soul  is  the result of  our  sinful  thoughts  and  desires;  every  torture of  His  body  the  result  of  the  sins  we  have  committed with  our  five  senses. Oh! God help  the  poor soul that  cannot  sympathize  with  its  suffering Brother and  Lord. God help  the  poor  heart  that does not  melt  with  compassion  in  response  to  His feeble cry:  "  Have  pity  on  Me,  have  pity  on  Me,  at least  you,  My  friends.,,

Pity will  be  not  only  akin  to  love,  but  will  become love itself  if  we  listen  to  His  third  and  last  invitation: " Oh  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  burdened,  come  to  Me and  I  will  refresh  you,  and  you  shall  find  peace  for your  souls." Who of  us  can  afford  to  reject  that blessed invitation? Who of  us  does  not,  at  times, find his  cross  lie  heavy  upon  him  and  the  enemies  of his  soul  persecute  and  torment  him,  and  his  life devoid of  all  but  desolation  of  spirit  and  misery  of mind  and  body? Who of  us  who  does  not,  at  times, find the  work  of  salvation  hard  labor,  and  the  yoke  of God  a  heavy  burden? No; in  all  the  world  there  is not  one  who  does  not  need  frequent  spiritual  refreshment to  bring  peace  to  his  soul. This refreshment and this  peace  he  must  seek  for,  in  meditating  on,  and comparing Christ's  sufferings  with  his  own. The thought of  these  sufferings  will  make  his  own  seem light; he  will  forget  his  own  trials  out  of  pity  for  his Saviour. When he  remembers  that  his  Saviour  suffered all  that  for  him,  love  will  take  possession  of  his