III. Christ foretold to St. Peter the kind of death which he was to suffer for His sake, as a certain pledge of their mutual love. Learn then to consider sufferings, and even death itself, as marks of God's affection for you, as they really are. He chastises those whom He loves. Jesus Christ chose sufferings for His mortal portion: He chose what was best; He performed the will of His Father; consequently, the man who has sufferings to endure, imitates his Saviour, and is specially favored by his Creator.
THURSDAY.
Christ Appears on the Mount.
I. How ineffable the goodness of our Lord, who, in order that all His disciples might see Him at once, and be convinced of His resurrection, ordered them to repair to a mountain in Galilee! This was probably that memorable apparition, which St. Paul mentions when he says: "Then He was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once." (i. Cor. xv. 6.) Imagine with what fervor the disciples went to witness this spectacle. O that you would imitate them, when you present yourself before Him in His church!
II. Christ appeared to them, comforted them, and confirmed them in their faith. He then said, "all power is given to me in heaven and in earth." (Matt, xxviii. 1 8.) This power, as God, He had from all eternity, but He received it in time, as man, in reward of His sufferings and merits. Rejoice at the power of that divine Being, who loves you so affectionately. Feel confidence under His protecting wing, and say with the prophet: " If armies in camps should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear; if a battle should rise up against me in this I will be confident." (Ps. xxvi. 3.)
