examination of the heart 298 natural disposition into the same infernal abyss, by imparting to you the knowledge of sin, granting you the gift of contrition, and compelling you in a certain way to the frequent reception of the Most Holy Sacraments? So many times you have regained the salvation that you have lost so often. Therefore, convinced by these divine benefits, love God. Shout with David: “I love you, O Lord, my strength” (Ps 18:1). EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Before Holy Communion 1. “Jesus entered into a boat” (cf. Mt 9:1). Consider that the Savior of the world would either go to the sea or walk along the seashore more and more often. He did this for various reasons: for He either taught the people from the boat, or showed His omnipotence, when He carried off a great catch from there. Hence those luminaries and pillars of the college of the apostles, Peter and Andrew, along with the sons of Zebedee, were called at sea. The sea, my soul, is the world. You are the boat, which the heavenly Captain is going to board today, either to subdue the storm of your passions, or to teach the crowd, [f.84r] that is, your senses; to guide your heart, intellect, and will; or to enfold the catch, namely you, into the nets of His love. Whatever it is that He is going to do in the end, await it with longing. 2. “[H]e crossed over [the sea]” (Mt 9:1). O happiness of that soul, which has already crossed the sea, which has already reached the heavenly port, and arrived at the shore of eternal beatitude. You, my soul, are still tossed in the very dangerous open sea of the world, and you are being smashed against so many Scyllas,129 rocks, and sandbanks of the sea. O 129 CLD, p. 509 (s.v. Scylla): “Scylla — a lofty rock at the entrance to the straits between Sicily and Italy, opposite to the whirlpool Charybdis, dangerous for sailors.” Cf. SLL, vol. 2, Typis Seminarii apud Joannem Manfrè, Patavii 1758, p. 276 (s.v. Scylla).
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