Quinquagesima Sunday The Gospel Luc. 18 v.31. Saturday Meditation


GOSPEL (Luke 18:31-43) 
At that time, Jesus took unto him the twelve and said to them: "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man. For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles and shall be mocked and scourged and spit upon. And after they have scourged him, they will put him to death. And the third day he shall rise again." And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them: and they understood not the things that were said. Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging. And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: "Son of David, have mercy on me." And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him, Saying; "What wilt thou that I do to thee?" But he said: "Lord, that I may see." And Jesus said to him: "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole." And immediately he saw and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Saturday 

Oh the force of this blind mans earnest petition! Admirable was the power of Josue, that with his word made the sun stand still in the firmament the space of a day, till he had gotten the victory of a great Army of men that fought against him; but more admirable was the force of this poor blind man that made God stand still being upon the way, in whose power, and not in his own, Josue made the son to stand still in the firmament.

But most admirable was the clemency of Christ, who at the cry of a miserable man stood still, & with great pity & tenderness of heart asked him saying, what wilt thou have me do unto thee? as if he should say: Thy earnest cry is so forcible with me, that I will do for thee whatsoever thou askest; ask, and have.

When God had a will to comfort the Prophet Jeremiah with revelations, being in prison, he said unto him: Jeremiah cry into me, and I will hear thee, and I will reveal unto thee great and serious matters which thou knows not.

Could God, if it had been his pleasure to reveal great matters unto Jeremiah for his comfort, have, done it, unless he had asked and begged it with tears, as he did?

This he did to signify, that for hearty and fervent prayer, he will grant us many and great benefits.

The Prophet David said: blessed be God because he hath not removed prayer from me nor his mercy, that is to say, because he hath not taken away the love of prayer and the exercise thereof without which he could not obtain his mercy.

O singular prerogative of prayer, that is so potent with almighty God, as to command in a sort, his mercy!

Christ knew well what the blind man would ask; yet would he have him cry aloud unto him, and continue crying though he were rebuked for it, he would ask him what he would have, that he might open his want unto him, and receive what he asked; he would make him cast his countenance upon him (bidding him look upon him) that he might cast his countenance of mercy upon him.

Oh happy are they that are given to fervent prayer and preserver therein.

It is an undoubted sign of the mercy and blessing of God towards them. But fervent prayer doth not consist to in outward crying, or vociferation, as in quiet and silent elevation of our soul unto God. 

The holy woman Anna Samuels mother, when she prayed in the temple for a son, being barren, she said nothing, but her soul prayed so earnestly, that God gave her the noble Prophet Samuel. 

A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634 


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