munion, at least, to "send thee help from the sanctuary and defend thee out of Sion." (Ps. xix. 3.)
III. "The man believed the word, which Jesus said to him, and himself believed and his whole house." Thus, his son received corporal health, and he, and the whole family spiritual life. Observe how Christ adds favors to favors. Remarking the efficacy of prayer, do not fail to perform that duty in the best manner that you can. St. Chrysostom says it is never an unseasonable time to pray.
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Christ the Guest of your Soul.
"Let the king come to the banquet I have prepared — to-morrow I will open my mind to the king." (Esther v. 8.)
I. We read in the gospel of the present Sunday, that Christ entered into the house of a certain Pharisee on the Sabbath, to eat bread. (Luke 14.) He is also the Guest of your soul, and He will enter it to-day, in order to be entertained by you. " If any man shall hear My voice and open to Me the gate, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." (Apoc. iii. 20.) Consider, therefore, attentively the greatness and dignity of your Guest, and conceive those words of the Evangelist addressed to you, " Make ready My supper, and gird thyself." (Luke xvii. 1.)
II. This Divine Guest, in the language of St. Ambrose, "feeds upon our virtues." He is particularly pleased with the virtue of humility, and therefore, while He was at table to-day with the Pharisee, He taught us always to choose the lowest places. " While the king was at
