203 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year It has been frequently proved that even a little filth left behind suffices to cause great stench in the soul, and that great virtues are annihilated by small imperfections, which are considered to be of no importance due to their smallness. 2. “But their eyes were kept from recognizing [H]im” (Lk 24:16). As a small glaucoma impedes the bodily eye from seeing, think how the veil made up by the tiniest defects can blind the whole soul and prevent its internal eyes from being fully opened to contemplate God. Woe to the soul whose eyes are restrained so that it cannot see God or even recognize Him! Oh! Beg, beg Jesus, before you approach Him, to remove the obstacles that impede your ability to see and recognize Him, lest perchance you do not see Him, or, although youmay see Him, do not recognize Him like His disciples in today’s Gospel, and fall into the same misfortune. As St. Gregory mentions, it was to the disciples that “the Lord appeared as they were talking about Him, but He did not show them His outward appearance, which they could recognize.”80 May it never happen to you that, although you received Christ risen from the dead in Holy Communion, you are found spiritually dead; and although you would have the Lord of virtues with you, no marks of these virtues would be manifest in you. [f.43v] 3. “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” (Lk 24:17). Consider that the Lord will scrutinize you; indeed, He will strictly judge all the words of your mouth, all the speech of your tongue. Since life and death come forth from the mouth of a man, you shall give an account to the Supreme Judge of those whom your conversation refreshed, instructed, edified, summoned to a morally better life; or, on the contrary, you will answer for those whom you destroyed, perverted, and to whom you were a cause of perdition. Therefore, act as a severe censor of your mouth; be your own judge; and, calling to mind all your lies, talkative80 Gregorius Magnus, XL Homiliarum in Evangelia: Liber II — Homilia XXIII (Luc. XXIV, 13-35), in: PL, vol. 76, Ateliers catholiques du Petit-Montrouge, Paris 1857, p. 1182 (n. 1538). Cf. GFGH, p. 176 (Homily 23): Saint Gregory the Great is referring to the risen Lord appearing to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus.
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