315 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year What, therefore, are you going to do in such a great state of dryness, in such a great abomination of desolation? Flee to the mountain (cf. Mt 24:18) that is Christ living in the Most Holy Eucharist. Flee, “my beloved, and be like a gazelle, or a young stag” (cf. Cant 2:8. 17). So that the ruin of greater evil deeds does not overwhelm you, flee to the high, lush, and fortified mountain. [f.91v] 2. “let him … not turn back” (Mt 24:18). Consider that sinning is a great evil, but to return to sin often is something worse. A well-known teacher expressed it by saying: “It is a human thing to sin, but to persist in sin is something diabolical.” Realize, therefore, that the greatest part of your sins, if not all of them, certainly will be forgiven you in this present Communion. But you should not go back again to your vomit,134 to your former evil habits, to grumbling, to sluggishness, to disobedience, to all kinds of lust, to pride, and to anger. Let not your soul go back, not only to the world itself, but also to the thought of worldly things. It should not strive after those things, which are of the flesh, but it should walk according to the Spirit (cf. Gal 5:16). Jesus Himself prohibits it, and He Himself will help your soul so that it will not go back to sin. 3. “So when you see” (Mt 24:15). The Lord advises us to flee at the sight of danger. As for you, shall you stand still after noticing the infernal traps set up for you? Will you not flee before the risk of temptation? Know, that nobody gains victory over the temptation quicker than the one who flees. In the wars of this world, fleeing is a vice and not evidence of a heroic spirit. On the contrary, in a spiritual battle, flight demonstrates prudence, fortitude, and ensures certain victory. For in temptation (as a certain man explains), first a simple notion presents itself, then the consent follows, and the delight appears.135 After the notion, consent, and delight, the regret arrives for not fleeing the temptation. 134 Cf. Prov 26:11 and 2 Peter 2:21-22. 135 Cf. IC, Bk. I, Ch. 13, § 5. St. Stanislaus’ explanation is slightly different from the actual passage in The Imitation of Christ, which says: “For first there occurs
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