It seems strange that the cross of Christ should give rest, but it is so; and the tribulations which come from his hand, as St. James says, work patience, and patience hath a perfect work; therefore it is to be counted joy to receive them, and not sorrow. And such will be the sentiment of the lover of God. So in the Sermon on the Mount, the burden is always: "Rejoice and be exceeding glad." For what? Poverty, afflictions, persecutions, false testimony, and so on—they are worthy of joy, because they bring what the soul so much desires.
See then what great things the desire to love God will do for you! May the poor thoughts which I have strung together, excite in your minds this fruitful and wonder-working desire. Regard the love of God as the pearl of great price. Consider over and over again the value of it. Persevere in efforts to appreciate it. Say to yourselves—I will not forget. I will continually repeat: Oh, God, make me to know thee, and to love thee more and more! Oh, how I wish to love my God better than I do! Excite this desire in the morning when you arise—during the day, when you are tempted—when you are discouraged—when you have any thing to suffer—in the midst of pleasure, and whenever the Holy Ghost inspires it. At night, take some time to reflect upon the love of God, to sigh and beg for it. Persevere, and it will not be long before your heart will be inflamed with it—your whole life will be filled with it. Your only uneasiness will be because that burning desire cannot be fully satisfied in this world. This is to hunger and thirst after justice. What a blessed hunger and thirst it is, and what a blessed promise accompanies it! "Blessed are ye who hunger and thirst after justice, for you shall be filled." [Footnote 122] Filled with justice! What does that mean? Filled so that we shall not want any more. Not filled with money—which will leave us poor and naked at the last hour. Not filled with sensual pleasures, which please the heart in time and burn it in eternity; but filled with justice, that is, filled with God—filled with a deep inward peace and joy during our mortal life—a foretaste of heaven; and filled with glory and happiness unspeakable in heaven itself forever. Amen.
[Footnote 122: St. Matt. v., 6.]
Sermon XVIII.
The Worth Of The Soul.
"There shall be joy before the angels of God
over one sinner doing penance."
—St. Luke xv., 10.
(From the Gospel for the 3d Sunday after Pentecost.)
This is what theologians call an accidental joy. The essential joy of Heaven consists in the perfect knowledge and love of God, and is unchangeable and eternal; but the accidental joy of Heaven springs from the knowledge of those events in time which display the goodness and greatness of God. The first of these events was the creation itself, when the hand of God spread the carpet of the earth and stretched the curtains of the heavens. Then "the morning stars praised Him together, and all the sons of God made a joyful melody." [Footnote 123]
[Footnote 123: Job xxxviii., 7.]