Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XXVI. 425
prayers, at the apprehension of death, the approach
of dangers, and the presence of afflictions. How
hoHly is a pastor's heart divided, betwixt the vigi-
lance of his function, and his recourse to God ; be-
twixt his attendance on his flock, and the care of his
fear here showed by our Head
own salvation ! The
under his voluntary weakness, is a great lesson of
humility for his members, in the midst of so many
necessities, voluntary and involuntary. Clothe me,
Lord, with thy courage and thy strength, through
that goodness which inclined thee to put on our fear
and our weakness.
" 43. And he came and found them asleep again :
for their eyes were heavy."
Men sacrifice with joy their sleep and whole nights
to ambition, avarice, and pleasure; but they cannot
afford one to God, to charity, and to their own sal-
vation.
*' 44. And he left them, and went away again,
and prayed the third time, saying the same words."
Let us not be tired with studying this pattern of
perseverance, humility, and simplicity in prayer.
Let us learn to speak little, and to humble ourselves
much therein. This is the model of the prayer of
penitents, humbled under the almighty hand of God
as that of perfect Christians, of priests, and the chief
pastors of the church, is exhibited' in the prayer given
us in the seventeenth chapter of St. John. Let us
comfort ourselves with Christ, when God makes us
sensible of our barrenness and poverty in prayer. If
he reduces us to one single good thought, to one
comfortable word, or to one pious motion, it is rea-
sonable that we should be contented therewith, and
humbly make use of it.