CHRIST, THE EXPECTATION OF THE GENTILES.

"I will look towards the Lord: I will wait for God my Savior." (Micheas 7:7)

I.

Consider what is read in this day's Gospel: "Art thou he, that art to come, or do we look for another?" (Matt. 11:3) Christ was the expected of all nations: as it is said in Genesis: "he shall be the expectation of nations" (Gen. 49:10), and by the prophet Haggai: "the desired of all nations shall come." (Hag. 2:8) Christ, with good reason, was the expectation of the Gentiles, for He came to enlighten those that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death; He came to give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and the use of their limbs to the lame; He came, in fine, to bring salvation to all. "He shall save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

II.

This Messiah, this expectation of the Gentiles, will visit you today in the Eucharist, to free you from your iniquities, to cure your infirmities, to bestow on you the gifts of His grace, in a word, to save you. O, what a benefit is this! "Behold God is my Savior," says Isaiah, "I will deal confidently, and will not fear." (Is. 12:2) Do you also act confidently with Him and surrender yourself entirely to His holy will.

III.

In order to prepare for His coming, you must exercise yourself beforehand in fervent desires and longing sighs for Him. He is hence called "the expectation of nations" (Gen. 49:10) and "the desire of the everlasting hills" (Gen. 49:26), that is, of the holy Patriarchs and Prophets. Hence, royal David sings: "With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me." (Ps. 39:1) Expect him, therefore, with an ardent desire; purify your soul, lest, being defiled with sin, you may offend His pure eyes, and "bring upon yourself a curse instead of a blessing." (Gen. 27:12)

ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

I.

"The angel Gabriel was sent from God into the city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin, etc." (Luke 1:26) Never did the world witness an embassy so solemn. The Person who sends it is the God of majesty, the Most Holy and Divine Trinity. The messenger is the Archangel Gabriel, which signifies fortitude, that is to say, that the message which he brought, though it might appear difficult, or even impossible, must nevertheless be executed. Observe how promptly he undertakes his commission and learn to imitate him on similar occasions.

II.

To whom is this message sent? Who, if he had seen such an ambassador dispatched immediately from God Himself, and, descending from heaven to this lower world, would not have imagined that he had been dispatched to some mighty potentate? And yet, he is sent to a city so obscure as to provoke the remark of Nathaniel: "Can anything of good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46) He is sent to a small cottage, to a poor virgin, espoused to a carpenter. Be ashamed that you should so miserably love and seek after those things which appear great and pleasing to the eyes of the world. Convince yourself that this affection is erroneous, and labor to correct it.

III.

The principal object of the embassy was to require the consent of the Virgin to be the Mother of God. God has a right to exact anything that He pleases from His creatures, but He wishes that our correspondence with His will should be voluntary. "He who created you without your own concurrence," says St. Augustine, "will not save you without it." Alas! How often does God send you His invisible Angels, His holy inspirations, to gain your good will, and consent that He may be conceived spiritually in your soul, and you refuse Him. Ask pardon for your obstinacy, and "if today you shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts." (Ps. 94:8)

THE ANGEL'S SALUTATION.

I.

"And the Angel, having come in, said to her, Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee." (Luke 1:28) The grave comportment of the Angel and the modesty of his countenance corresponded to his veneration of the Virgin. Learn hence to act like an Angel in your intercourse with men, but more especially so with God in prayer. The Virgin was pronounced by the Angel to be full of grace, by excellence, and far superior to all other pure creatures. Reflect what you are full of, whether of grace and virtue, or not rather of pride, vanity and self-love. "Our Lord is with thee," continued the Angel, by His special presence and the effects of His grace; and she was with God in her thoughts, desires, and affections. Happy communication! Examine your actions and affections, and try to unite them to God.

II.

Consider the actions and thoughts of the Virgin at that time. She was alone and praying in her closet (as the holy Fathers tell us) to teach you how you ought to entertain yourself with God in solitude, if you desire to be visited by Him. "And when she had heard, she was troubled at his saying" (Luke 1:29), that is, at her own praises uttered by the Angel, as whosoever that is truly humble will be; for he believes that praise belongs to God and not to himself. "She thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be," prudently examining everything, lest she might be deceived. O, that the first woman had been so prudent and so humble, and had so carefully weighed the words of the fallen Angel.

III.

How different are your proceedings! On every occasion, you seek your own praises and applaud yourself when you hear them spoken by others; and, not satisfied to be commended by others, you do it yourself. When you hear those things which are pleasing, you do not imitate the Virgin, and examine "what manner of salutation this should be," but immediately embrace it with your whole heart. Your first duty is to examine every affair with prudence before you undertake it, and following the advice of the wise man, "let your eyelids go before your steps." (Prov. 4:25)

THE DELIVERY OF THE MESSAGE.

I.

"Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son." (Luke 1:30) Reflect how the Angel dispels all fear from the mind of the Virgin, and observe that it is the character of a good spirit to bring peace and security to the soul. "Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found grace with God;" for true joy and security are only to be found in the grace of God, and not in worldly gratifications and pleasures, in which we have too often sought them. This grace the Virgin possessed in an eminent degree over every other creature, in such a manner that the words spoken of queen Esther may be applied to her: "And the King loved her more than all the women, and she had favor and kindness before him above all the women." (Esth. 2:17)

II.

Consider the substance of the message which the Angel bore: "Thou shalt bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus," that is, Savior. "He shall be great," by nature, since He is God; by His office, for He is the mediator between God and man; in consequence of His perfections, "for in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, corporeally." (Col. 2:9) "He shall be called the Son of the Most High," not by adoption, as are all the just, but by nature. "And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David, His father," but in a far more eminent degree. "And He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever," that is, in the Church of the faithful. (Luke 1:32) Rejoice at these glorious prerogatives of your Savior, and congratulate the Mother on the greatness of the Son.

III.

Consider with St. Bernard these words: "He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever." Learn to imitate the conduct of Jacob, and expel the influence of the devil from your soul. Struggle with your vicious inclinations and propensities. "Let not sin reign in your mortal body" (Rom. 6:12), but let Jesus Christ reign in your soul forever. Say with St. Bernard: "I have no other king but my Lord Jesus Christ."

THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S REPLY.

I.

"How shall this be done, because I know not man?" (Luke 1:34) The Blessed Virgin, who had hitherto been silent, began at last to speak in defense of her virginity, which she would not forfeit even to become the Mother of God. O, admirable purity! In this virtue, she was truly singular and without example. Learn from her: 1. Both to speak and to be silent at proper times and on proper occasions. 2. Not to be withdrawn from your good purposes or obligations, on any account or pretext without carefully examining as she did "how this may be done." 3. To be cautious in point of chastity, and to avoid every danger in regard to that delicate virtue, for "we have this treasure in earthen vessels." (2 Cor. 4:7)

II.

"The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee." (Luke 1:35) Ponder the excellency of virginity, of which Christ was so great a lover, that, whilst He took upon Himself all our other miseries, yet He would not be conceived and born but of a Virgin. And because the Virgin herself was devotedly attached to this virtue, the Divine Spirit of purity Himself, effected that her Son, who, as God, was born only of the Father, as man was born only of herself. Beseech the Lord to visit you with His holy grace, and "to overshadow you with His shoulders" (Ps. 90:4), especially "in the day of battle" (Ps. 139:8), when you have to fight against the concupiscence of the flesh.

III.

"Behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age." (Luke 1:36) She that was barren has become fruitful, in order that you may discover that nothing is impossible to God. Therefore, although you have hitherto been fruitless in good works, yet, by the divine grace and your own concurrence, you may produce many, not only in yourself, but also in your neighbors, according to your condition and state of life. Therefore, begin now to cooperate with God's grace; for He will not be wanting to you, "who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children." (Ps. 112:9)

THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S CONSENT.

I.

How earnestly the Angel and the whole court of heaven awaited the consent of the Virgin! "Speak but the word," says St. Bernard, "Holy Virgin, which heaven and earth, and the world below, expect from you." She gives her consent, and says, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord." (Luke 1:38) Admire that singular humility which prompted her, who is styled the Mother of God, to retain the name of a handmaid. This is the humility, which our "Lord regarded" and loved so much in her, as she proclaims in her Canticle. Embrace the same humility in your life and actions, if you wish the Holy Ghost to dwell in you; for "He sendeth forth springs in the vales." (Ps. 103:10) He bestows on the humble the waters of His grace; but He deprives the proud of their moisture.

II.

The quality of handmaid, or servant, though contemptible amongst men, in relation to God is honorable. We stand in that relation to Him, by the several titles of creation, redemption, and preservation. For Him alone we ought to labor, to His glory we ought to direct all our actions, as did His blessed handmaid. Offer yourself, therefore, to God, as His constant servant: and say with royal David: "O Lord, I am Thy servant, and the son of Thy handmaid." (Ps. 115:6.) Remember that that handmaid was the Blessed Virgin Mary.

III.

Consider the admirable obedience and resignation of the Blessed Virgin in conforming her will to the Divine pleasure. "Be it done to me according to Thy word." (Luke 1:38) Conceive how agreeable this answer was to God, to Angels, and to men. Imitate her resignation, and the resignation of her Divine Son, who afterwards prayed: "Not as I will, but as Thou wilt." (Matt. 24:39) The Angel had fulfilled his commission, the Holy Trinity was rejoiced, and the Virgin arrested the attention of God, of Angels, and of man. Let your conduct prove that she has gained some of your attention.

ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE INCARNATION.

I.

After the Virgin's consent, the eternal Word, "as a bridegroom coming out of his bride chamber," to celebrate His nuptials with human nature, "rejoiced as a giant to run the way" (Ps. 18:6), to unite Himself to the weakness of human nature, and to commence the work of our redemption. He took flesh of the Virgin Mary; to this, He united a rational soul, and He communicated His Divinity to both. Thus, "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) Conceive what joy the Angels in heaven felt, and the Saints in limbo, at the accomplishment of this salutary mystery.

II.

Consider what kind of a body the eternal Word assumed in the Virgin's womb. He might have assumed a body immortal and glorious (for this was His due); but He preferred to take to Himself the mortal flesh of a helpless infant: 1. In order that He might "in all things be made like to His brethren." (Heb. 2:17) 2. In order to induce us to love Him more tenderly. 3. To remove all fear from us, and to inspire us with confidence. 4. To give us an example of humility, patience and mortification, by remaining nine months imprisoned in His mother's womb, in the most distressing situation. 5. In order that He might satisfy, in the flesh, for our debts, like a condemned criminal. You, who are but dust and ashes, learn to be humble, when you see the Lord of hosts thus humbled for your sake.

III.

What were the first acts of the Divine Infant immediately after His conception? He offered Himself and His whole life to the eternal Father, as a holocaust and a sacrifice for our sins. He said, in the inspired language of His prophet: "Behold, I come." (Ps. 39:8) The eternal Father was pleased with His newborn Son, and He might well have said: "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee." (Ps. 2:7) This day was a day of joy to heaven and to earth. On this day: "Mercy and truth met each other: and justice and peace kissed. Truth has sprung out of the earth: and justice has looked down from heaven." (Ps. 84:11-12)