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excuses (St. Luke xiv.). Naaman, to be cleansed of his terrible leprosy, was only bidden to wash in the Jordan; but he did not see why he should. Are not the waters of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? (4 Kings v.). So now against confession, which renders the forgiveness of sin so unspeakably easy, the tempter at once suggests: Why confess to a man? Why not go direct to God?

He can choose His He chose to say to

The answer is: God is the Master. own method of dispensing grace. men, His ministers: Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven. Happy they who become like little children and follow our Lady's good advice: Whatever He shall say to you, do it (St. John iii.).

C. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to Him: Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he is now of four days.

Martha's faith seems to have been, as St. Chrysostom thought, still somewhat imperfect. Her sisterly heart shrunk from a painful exposure of her dear brother's decomposed corpse.

Did she make her expostulation out loud? or would she draw near to her good Master and whisper it to Him? However this be, our Blessed Saviour is not angry. reassures her:

He

D. Did I not tell thee, that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?

If the resurrection of one dead body is the glory of God, what a glory, what an admirable and stupendous outcome of the Sacred Passion and the plentiful redemption of Christ Jesus is the daily and hourly resurrection of so many sinful souls from eternal death to everlasting life!

E. Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he is now of four days. "O vos omnes attendite"-O all you who pass by the way, stay a little while to listen to these words, and then reflect on yourselves, and apply them to your case.

A mortal sin is like a mortal wound. When the mortal wound is inflicted, death with all its horrors does not

always set in at once. The whole effect of mortal sin does not appear till eternal death is come in the next world. There malice against God begins in good earnest. This malice in the soul is the corresponding effect to rottenness and corruption in the body. Malice is the rottenness of the dead soul, from which all life, all health, all beauty, all hope, all joy, all love is gone for ever. Mortal sin has never done its full work till despair sets in. As long as hope survives, the mortal wound has not taken full effect. The devil is therefore tormented with an intolerable restlessness till he can induce the poor sinner, after a mortal sin, to fling away all hope.

It is on record that a hermit, who had served God well for many years, in an evil hour yielded to the tempter and sinned grievously. But because of his long fidelity, the Lord had mercy on him, and taught him how to foil and baffle the murderous efforts made by Satan to complete his ruin, now that the first victory had been won. The father of lies, as usual, whispered that all was lost; that he must of necessity fling aside the monastic habit and return to the world; that it would be a mockery for him, and unbearable presumption, to persevere in monastic observances. The hermit's Angel Guardian would not allow him to listen for a moment to these lies; and urged strongly that this sad fall could only be a passing madness; that he must at once say, "My God, my Redeemer, in te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in æternum". Satan had to fly away, in the rage of disappointment and chagrin, according to that word of the Holy Ghost: Resist the devil and he will fly from you (St. James iv.). Hope in Jesus Christ's redemption snatched the sinful soul out of the jaws of the destroyer; and true contrition undid entirely the ruin which the tempter had accomplished.

If, then, the poor frail soul falls into sin at noon, by far the wisest course is to repair that sin by an act of hope in God's mercy one minute after noon. It is not the voice of God, nor of any messenger from Heaven

that whispers so assiduously: "You cannot possibly pray today, nor confess to-day". Make haste, Sacrifice a sacrifice of justice and hope in the Lord (Psalm iv.). Make haste, According to thy ability be merciful (Tobias iv.), and thou shalt have mercy. Be quick, ask for pardon, and you shall receive. Be quick, confess your sin, and our Lord in Heaven will ratify the word spoken by His delegate on earth. “I absolve thee. Go in peace.”

It is Satan, a liar from the beginning and a murderer, who well knows that it is when sin is four days old, and four months old, that the rottenness of death is more and more doing its work. So, poor sinner, if to-day you shall hear the voice of God (Psalm xciv.) praying you to come back and be forgiven, harden not your heart. Do not begin all at once to make excuses. Do not put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.

STATION III.

They took, therefore, the stone away, and Jesus lifting up His eyes said: Father, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast heard Me. And I know that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the people that stand about have I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me (vv. 41, 42).

A. Because of the people that stand about have I said it. "Attendite." Listen attentively, for in every word that cometh from the mouth of our Lord there is bread for our souls.

He is always Jesus. He is always saving; whether He speaks or is silent, when He eats, drinks, or sleeps. He is always thinking how to save the people that stand about, and the generations to come. For in reality we are all standing about, and as present to Him as were the Jews and Galileans around the grave. For our sakes He utilises the moments while they are drawing back the slab, to utter words that will nourish our poor souls.

likewise.

"Attendite," reflect upon yourselves, Go thou, and do For we too live in presence of many standing about. We cannot go to Hell or to Heaven alone. Like men in penal servitude, we have to work out our salvation in gangs, made fast to one another, and we necessarily help each other to good or to evil. I am partner, O Lord, the Psalmist says, with all who fear Thee (Psalm cxviii.). O my God, deliver me from being partner with those who fear Thee not. From the sins of others, spare Thy servant (Psalm xviii.).

B. Father, I give Thee thanks. This word also our Saviour speaks for the sake of us who stand about Him. Alas! how often and how often has His Sacred Heart been constrained to stop the stream of grace because we would not say that word so dear to Him! My God, my Lord, I give Thee thanks.

C. Because of the people—that they may believe.

Now He lets out His secret, why-doing violence to Himself He tarried so long beyond Jordan, and then climbed so slowly the steep hills from Jericho to Bethany; and all that while left Mary and Martha and Lazarus in the house of mourning. Now is He justified in all His words and works, for this day salvation will come to many.

D. I know that Thou hearest Me always, but because of the people that stand about, I said it (St. John xi. 42).

Our Lord is a Mediator, a go-between. Observe His double work: first with His Father; then with the people. With His Father His task is easy. His Eternal Father is so well pleased in His Divine Son that He hears Him always, every wish of His Heart. But to win men and to persuade them He has to labour and suffer unspeakably.

E. They took, therefore, the stone away.

While Martha is troubled, contemplate her sister Magdalen. She has sunk down, once more, at the sacred feet of her Master. Her heart is loving Him much as she looks up into His face, beautiful above the sons of men (Psalm xliv.), listening to every word that He utters. A great

tranquillity has succeeded in her heart to the storm of her grief; and she is able to say in her secret soul to her Divine Master, "Domine, singulariter in spe constituisti me". Most wonderfully, Lord, and in a way truly miraculous and admirable, Thou hast established me in hope (Psalm iv.). As they begin to draw away the heavy slab, her eye and her heart turn at one moment to the grave and are then riveted again on the beauty of her Divine Master. For now His features are lighted up with a faint ray of that hidden glory which by rights is always His, but is suppressed. Her heart is burning within her while He speaks. They took, therefore, the stone away.

The stone is rolled back; and suddenly there is a breathless stillness around the open grave, and the eyes of all are fixed on the majesty of our Lord's countenance.

STATION IV.

and

When He had said these things He cried out with a loud voice: Lazarus, come forth. And presently he that had been dead came forth bound hands and feet with winding bands, his face bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them: Loose him and let him go (vv. 43, 44).

A. They turned pale, those motionless men and women around the grave, as they listened awe-stricken to that command given to the dead, for never man spoke as Jesus then spoke. For an instant there is suspense and strain, and then the dead man in his grave-clothes is seen mounting the steps from the open cave and coming out into the midst of them, bound up in his swathing bands.

Loose him and let him go, the Lord says gently. At the word Martha springs forward, her heart throbbing, her tears falling fast. It is her work. Her trembling hands can untie every knot and loosen every band. No one else intrudes. For Mary can stir no hand. She is kneeling speechless and motionless by the side of her Master, washing once more abundantly with tears from her heart the beautiful feet that have brought the glad

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