Seventh Day.
Let us consider the case of Judas in another reflection and apply it to ourselves. Judas began as well, perhaps, as any of the other disciples; but now he is approaching the dreadful abyss of sin into which he fell, as we know from the Gospel. How much the Lord did for that disciple! By kind words and patience, He made him understand that though He knew of his impending fall, still He did not cast him off, but tried to win him back. When Judas had eaten the morsel which Our Lord had presented to him, the devil seemed to have entered into him. It was only then that the Lord gave him up, and bade him go and do quickly what he had in his mind. Now His mercy is at an end, and with terrible severity Our Lord speaks of the scandal, and says it would have been better that Judas had never been born. All this shows that unless we co-operate with the grace which God almighty offers us, we, too, shall fall into sin, notwithstanding all the good instruction and good example given us. It shows that if we follow our own bent of evil intentions, we will go from bad to worse in spite of all that God has done. There are times of grace that are all-important for us.
Prayer.
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, etc., etc.
Eighth Day.
When the Lord sat at the Last Supper He made all the apostles aware of their future infidelity. Simon Peter spoke for himself rather than for all, when he said: “Although all should be scandalized in Thee, I will not: I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison and to death.” Our Lord foresaw his frailty and corrected him for his presumption, though no doubt it was well meant at the time, and said to him, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat.” Peter followed the Lord from afar, to see what the end would be, and entering the courtyard of the prison, he was accosted by a maid-servant, and before her and the bystanders he cursed and blasphemed that he “did not know the man.” As in the case of Peter, so Our Lord knows our frailty—that we cannot stand by ourselves. We ought to distrust ourselves, and remember how sinful we have been, and now that we stand be careful lest we fall.
Prayer.
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, etc., etc.