self from you. You must seek Him with sincerity and ardent affection, in order " that you may find Him whom your soul loveth." (Cant. iii. 4.)
II. Though angels appeared and asked Mary, " Woman, why weepest thou?" (John xx. 13), they could not satisfy her mind and affection. No worldly comfort, nothing in fact but God Himself, can satisfy the soul that truly seeks God. Christ assumed the appearance of a gardener and presented Himself before her; Magdalene immediately applied to Him and asked, " If thou hast taken Him away, tell me where thou hast laid Him; and I will take Him away." (John xx. 15.) How great was the force of her love! No place, no danger, no toil, could prevent her from seeking Him. Examine if your love be of so sterling a character.
III. "Jesus saith to her, Mary." Christ often conceals Himself from His servants, and seems to be at a great distance from them, when in reality He is very near. He acts thus to inflame our desire and love; but He discovers Himself at last, and as Sara remarked, "after tears and weeping, He poureth in joyfulness."' (Tob. iii. 22.) Beg your Saviour to be so familiar with you as interiorly to call you by your name, and so to speak to your heart that you may know His voice, and with holy Magdalene, be more and more inflamed with His divine love.
FRIDAY.
Christ Appears to other Women.
I. While the holy women who had visited the sepulchre were returning to the city, Christ appeared to them on the way, and said, " All hail!" (Matt, xxviii. 9.) Ponder here the goodness of God, who affords comfort at a
