September 11
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeEighth Wednesday after Trinity
Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. Jeremiah 7:25.
IF we really love Christ, let us imitate Him. See how obedient He was to all His Father's commands. For we shall not be able to give Him any better fruit of our affection than the imitation of His example. Holy Martyrs have followed Him even to the effusion of their blood, even to the likeness of His Passion; Martyrs have followed Him, but not Martyrs only. The bridge was not sawn asunder after they crossed it; the fountain was not dried up after they had drunk of it. That garden of our Lord has—indeed it has—not only the roses of martyrdom, but also the lilies of virginity, and the ivy of married life, and the violets of widowhood. Let none whatever despair of their vocation. Christ "willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." How ought we to follow Christ? "Christ humbled Himself." Thou hast, O Christian, what thou must hold. "Christ became obedient." Why actest thou haughtily? Having gone through His humiliation, and laid death prostrate, Christ ascended into heaven. Let us follow Him. Let us spurn whatever element of delight from things temporal the world brings in upon us; let us contemn its roarings, however fearful. And let him that does so not doubt that he is cleaving to Christ's steps, so that he may say, "My conversation is in heaven."
O draw, blessed Jesus, Thy children to Thee, And grant that Thine own we may evermore be.