His voice. "Even when Thou judgest, O Lord, being Master of power, Thou judgest with tranquillity;" and so now being Master of power, He speaks with great tranquillity and with great compassion. I have pity on the crowd, He said formerly. Much more pity has He now on the multitude enslaved by their malicious rulers; and in pity and mercy, in order to check them in their course of wickedness, He causes His word to enter, more piercing than any twoedged sword, and to reach unto the division of the soul and the spirit; of the joints also and the marrow (Hebrews iv.).

F. As soon, therefore, as He had said, I am He, they went backward and fell to the ground.

Glad indeed had our Saviour been if when they heard Him say, I am He, they had of their own will come forward and fallen on their faces to adore Him.

But now against their will they reel backwards and fall to the ground. Yet not in anger has He spoken. The Psalm tells us that when He wills He looketh on the earth and maketh it tremble (Psalm ciii.). With one glance, one wish, He could make the earth open under their feet, or with one rough word destroy them all (Wisdom xii.). But His wish is not at all the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live (Ezech. xxxiii.).

As they lie prostrate and fear-stricken, His compassionate Heart speaks to each of them: Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways. And why will you die, O house of Israel?

G. Jesus said to them, I am He.

St. Augustine suggests this thought: If in the day of His weakness the voice of the Lord can break the cedars; yea, break the cedars of Libanus (Psalm xxviii.), what will be the effect of His words when He shall come in His majesty and give judgment?

If Thou shalt observe iniquities, Lord Jesus, who shall stand it?

Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando Judex est venturus,
Cuncta stricte discussurus!

Alas, what fear and trembling then,
When Jesus comes to judge all men !

"In that day of judgment deliver us, O Lord."
H. Jesus said, I am He.

Many in that crowd had never heard His voice before. His first word to them takes effect: but to us our God has spoken "multifariam multisque modis "-at sundry times and in divers manners-I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, and you have not obeyed Me (Jerem. xxxv.).

I. Jesus said, I am He.

And to each of us He will say as soon as we die, I am He. It was to Me you gave to eat and drink. I am He that was hungry, I am He Whom you visited, I am He Whom you clothed. And His word will then have an effect more overpowering than in the Garden. Oh, how blessed those faithful servants of Jesus who die saying to Him, Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise Thy name. The just wait for me until Thou reward me (Psalm cxli.). J. Jesus said, I am He.

"Come to Me, you who labour; for I am He Who can refresh you. Even if the sinner be dead, let him come to Me, for I am the Resurrection and the Life: I am He Who can call him from death to life." When we rebel against suffering, He says most compassionately, "I am He that sent it, will you not drink the chalice with Me, for I am wounded and bruised for Thee?"

K. I am He.

At Holy Communion some crave inordinately for sensible consolation, and are downcast because they find it not. If our Lord might be heard, He would remind us that the Blessed Eucharist is a remembrance of His Passion. “I that come to you, I am He that suffered Agony in the Garden for you; I am He that died on a Cross for you." You are receiving Jesus Crucified. Must you then abound with comfort and consolation?

L. They went backward and fell to the ground.

Pierce my flesh with Thy fear, O Lord. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord (Ecclus. i.),

Does this miracle awaken salutary terror in the souls of those lying here on the ground?

Does the courage of the Roman soldiers falter? For men can be brave in battle against their fellow-men, and yet wither away for fear when God shows His power. Do they grow more and more displeased with the unholy work for which their rest is broken? That centurion who is to receive so much grace on the morrow, is he prepared for conversion by the holy fear inspired as he lies on the ground? How many are touched by grace we know not. It is evident that very many remain obdurate. Like Pharao, the moment the hand of God ceases to strike, they harden their hearts.

STATION II.

Again therefore He asked them: Whom seek you? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered: I have told you that I am He. If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way. That the word might be fulfilled which He said: Of them whom Thou hast given Me, I have not lost any one (vv. 7-9).

A. Again He asked, Whom seek you?

Are His enemies risen again to their feet when He puts this second question? Or is it perchance the quiet tranquillity with which He speaks that gives back courage to them, and makes them think that the danger is over? It was a saying among the ancients, that nothing dries so quickly as a tear. Fear also passes away quickly when the cause is no longer present. St. James speaks of a man beholding his own countenance in a glass, and he went away and presently forgot what manner of man he was (c. i.). Certain it is that impressions are effaced from the mind as quickly as from the sandy shore when the tide comes in. In desolation we forget what we were in consolation. In consolation it is difficult indeed to realise how weak we were in time of temptation. Only those rendered prudent by Divine grace carry out the teaching of Ecclesiasticus:

Remember poverty in the time of abundance; and the necessities of poverty in the day of riches (c. xviii.).

B. They answered, Jesus of Nazareth.

"Attendite." If these enemies, despite such a check, persevere in seeking Jesus to their own ruin, should we yield to small difficulties, and turn back, and cease to seek for Him, when with Him we find all else ? Have we not His sure promise, Seek, and you shall find? But as He has given us great strength of will, He requires that we seek with a strong will and persevering importunity.

The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence.

C. I have told you that I am He.

The first time this word only scared and terrified and bewildered. We may observe how a word from our Lord produces at different times different effects. Now, apparently, they hear it without terror.

In many different ways our Lord is used to speak. To His servants well disposed His words bring peace and courage and love. To them He says: I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace, and not of affliction (Jerem. xxix.). To them His words are: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, and called thee by thy name. Thou art Mine (Isaias xliii.).

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Speak to me, and correct me, Lord Jesus, in mercy (Psalm cxl.), but rebuke me not in Thy indignation, nor chastise me in Thy wrath (Psalm vi.) by being silent to my soul." D. If therefore you seek Me, let these go.

From these words we gather that the preconcerted plan between Judas and the Rulers is to seize the Apostles as well as their Divine Master. Remember, our Lord said in the Cenacle, remember My word that I said to you: If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. This shall certainly be so to the end of time. True and faithful disciples shall ever share with their Master the enmity of the wicked and of Satan.

Still the hour for this is not yet come. Jesus, according to the plans of the Eternal Father, is to tread the wine

press alone.

Whither I go thou canst not follow Me now, but thou shalt follow hereafter (St. John xiii.).

E. This is the third miracle worked by our Lord in the Garden to soften the heart of Judas and His other enemies. First, Judas gives the sign agreed upon, but in vain. Their eyes are held.

Secondly, He casts them all on the ground.

And now, thirdly, He lays a command on them which takes away from them all power of executing what they have resolved upon, and what they so much desire to do. They are determined to seize the disciples,

But must let them go.

F. This incident we must keep well in mind throughout our contemplation of the Sacred Passion: for it brings home to us this most necessary lesson, that even when the prince of darkness and wicked men seem to have all power, yet God is always the Lord of the storm. What truth do we need more often than this, when the enemies of Christ are persecuting His Bride the Church?

He said the word, and there arose a storm of wind, and the waves thereof were lifted up, they mount up to the heavens, and they go down to the depths :

They were troubled, and reeled like a drunken man: and all their wisdom was swallowed up.

And they cried to the Lord in their affliction, and He brought them out of their distresses. And He turned the storm into a breeze; and its waves were still; and they rejoiced because they were still; and He brought them to the haven which they wished for.

Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to Him, and His wonderful works to the children of men (Psalm cvi.).

G. If therefore you seek Me, let these go.

The Apostles have a work to do for Him on earth. They are to gather in the harvest in gladness for which He has sown in tears. They are to die with Him later, but not now; for they are to be the seed of His future Church. St. Paul quotes the prophetic words of Isaias: Unless the Lord