The plaint is echoed by the Incarnate Son. “_You will not come to Me that you may have life._”[54] And echoed not once, nor from Jerusalem only, but through all time and from the countless tabernacles where the Eucharistic Life is being lived for us. How is it that that cry does not arrest us as we go heedlessly on our way? What a difference it would make to our round of daily toil and worries and anxieties if we carried away oftener from the altar the Life Who is waiting there to give Himself to us. He would not encroach upon our time. He is the most considerate of guests, and knows we are no more able to lay aside our domestic cares than was His own blessed Mother in her little cave-home at Nazareth. He would not interfere with our projects, our occupations, our amusements even. But He would act the part of a helpmate throughout, guiding our plans, sanctifying our work, ennobling our pleasures--above all, sharing and soothing our sorrows. Is an ally such as this so easily found that we can afford to turn a deaf ear to the invitation from the tabernacle: “Whom seekest thou--a friend? I am He.” * * * * * O Loving One, who are we that You should so earnestly entreat our friendship? Have You not thronging about You legions upon legions of angels? What need can You have of us? Yet You not only tolerate our society but beg for it. The little troublesome children whom strangers find a nuisance are a solace to the father, who feels something to be missing unless he has them pressing and chattering all about him. So is it with You. To satisfy Your Heart You must have us, needy and clamorous, all about You, besetting You on every side. Lord, had we always treated You as You deserve, could You be more in love with our company? Surely Your eagerness should drive away fear that our uncouthness and coldness will disgust You. Love “is patient, is kind, ... beareth all things, ... hopeth all things, endureth all things.”[55] O Lord and Lover, we will not disappoint You. Since You are content to have us as we are, we will draw near to You without fear: “Behold we come to Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God”.[56] [54] John v. [55] 1 Cor. xiii. [56] Jer. iii. XXI. THANKSGIVING. And he fell on his face before His feet, giving thanks.--_Luke_ xvii. 16. Just as I do to-day, dear Lord, in the fulness of my heart, in the first transport of joy and praise and gratitude that comes with the sense of answered prayer. My happiness is all from You. In all that has happened I trace the workings of Your hand, and see how it has moved all secondary causes, and ordered all things sweetly. “Thou, O my God, hast made me joyful with great joy.”[57] “Blessed be the Lord God this day.”[58] “We bless Thee, O Lord God, because it hath not happened as we suspected. For Thou hast shewn Thy mercy to us, and Thou hast taken pity.”[59]