May 15
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeWednesday in Holy Week
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Psalms 51:8.
IF God rejoices over those who repent, it seems natural that He should wish that the penitent should recognise this, and this he cannot do unless he also rejoices in such restoration; for when God bids us to rejoice with them that do rejoice on earth, much more does He bid us rejoice with him who rejoices in heaven. When the penitent is restored to the favour of God, he is restored to the greatest favour which a reasonable creature can enjoy. If in God's favour is life, he is restored to life; if he is conscious of this, how can he help being glad? Consider how this joy of the penitent is recognised by the Church both in her daily offices and in her highest act of praise and thanksgiving. How, then, can any one calling himself a son of the Church take upon himself to frown upon the joyful sense of forgiveness which the Father vouchsafes to him who "was dead and is alive again; was lost and is found"? We must sing with the spirit and with the understanding; we must feel, and not rest till we do feel, what we sing in daily prayer and weekly sacraments.
What do we then? if far and wide
Men kneel to Christ, the pure and meek,
Yet rage with passion, swell with pride,
Have we not still our faith to seek?
Nay, but in steadfast humbleness
Kneel on to Him, Who loves to bless
The prayer that waits for Him, and trembling strive
To keep the lingering flame in thine own breast alive.