CHRIST, THE GUEST OF YOUR SOUL.

"Zacheus, make haste and come down; for today I must abide in thy house." (Luke 19:5)

I.

Christ, although He be the King of Glory, whom myriads of Angels attend in heaven, ardently desires, notwithstanding, to become the Guest of your soul. Hence He says, in the Apocalypse: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man shall hear My voice and open to Me the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." (Apoc. 3:20) Consider the greatness of the favor; reflect who you are, and who He is.

II.

Consider what is said in the Gospel of this day: "Prepare ye the ways of the Lord, make straight His paths." (Luke 3:4) You must prepare your heart to entertain so great a Guest. Your Guest is content even with what is mean, provided it be pure; hence He would take flesh in the purest womb of the Virgin, be laid in a new sepulcher, and wrapped in a clean winding-sheet. He is highly pleased with humility, and as much offended with pride and self-conceit. If there be a "valley" of imperfection in your soul you must fill it up, as is said in the Gospel of today, if there be a "hill" of pride you must level it. Meet your guest, then, with acts of adoration and humility, and say, from the bottom of your soul: "Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof." (Luke 7:6)

III.

With what pomp, kindness and hearty welcome the Saints in the Scripture received their guests ! Abraham, the three angels (Gen. xviii. 3) ; the Sunamite woman, the prophet Eliseus (4. King. iv. 8) ; Martha, Christ Himself. (Luke x. 38.) Imitate their holy example, and present your whole heart undivided to your guest. This is all that He requires. " My Son," He says, " give me thy heart." (Prov. xxiii. 26.) He will not receive this heart, if it be either divided by self-love or a prey to inordinate affection or undue propensities.

MARY'S VIRGINITY REVEALED TO JOSEPH. I.

I.

The singular sanctity of St. Joseph corresponded with his exalted office. God had not yet revealed to him the mystery of the Incarnation in order to prove both his and the Virgin's virtue. When he perceived her pregnancy, he was much troubled, and "being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, he thought of putting her away privately" (Matt. 1:19) Thus, God frequently tries the virtue and perseverance of His servants, though only for a time; for "He shall not suffer the just to waver forever." (Ps. 54:23)

II.

Consider the many virtues which the holy man exercised in this perplexity of mind: Patience, in supporting and concealing the matter; charity, in not reproaching her; prudence, in taking mature deliberation with himself in regard to what ought to be done. Imitate his example when you discover anything apparently wrong in the conduct of your neighbor; avoid rash judgment, and follow the advice of St. Bernard: "Excuse the intention, if you cannot the fact; consider it a mistake, judge it a surprise, think it a chance."

III.

Consider the admirable virtues which the Virgin also exercised during this perplexity of St. Joseph. She alleges nothing in her own defense, although she might have done so. Her honor was in question in a matter of the highest and most delicate importance. She chooses to be silent, however, and rather to commit the matter to God alone than publish anything which might redound to her own praise. "My secret to myself," she might have said with Isaiah. (Is. 24:16) This is, perhaps, not your conduct: you immediately reveal whatever tends to your own commendation; and, though you may be criminal, you attempt even "to excuse yourself in your sins." (Ps. 140:4)

MARY'S VIRGINITY REVEALED TO JOSEPH. II.

I.

"Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep." (Matt. 1:20) This angel honors St. Joseph with the title of son of David. He removes from his mind all trouble and anxiety, in relation to his spouse, by informing him of the mystery of the Incarnation. Observe how God, in due time, assists holy souls who are in distress; when all human means fail, He sends them succor from heaven. Admire the providence of God, which never abandons us, although it seems to leave us for a time. "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee." (Is. 54:7)

II.

Consider the feelings of joy which St. Joseph experienced when he was informed of the Mystery of the Incarnation, the perfect innocence of the Virgin, and her election to be the mother of God. He felt the importance of the dignity to which he was raised; he was not only the guardian and spouse of the Mother of God, but he was also the reputed father of the Son of God; and, as father, he was to give Him the name of Jesus. Congratulate Him on His elevation to this honor, and reverence with singular devotion him whom both the mother and the Son so highly honored.

III.

Consider the mutual joy of the Virgin and St. Joseph after the Angel had revealed to him the Mystery of the Incarnation. Conceive and reverence their mutual congratulations when he informed her of the Angel vision. St. Joseph probably condemned himself of suspicion, in consequence of the anxiety which he had experienced. Learn the importance of the virtue of charity, and convince yourself that it is more safe to err from an excess of charity than to be correct with defect of charity. Learn, also, to put your trust in God alone, in every perplexing event of life; for it is He alone who, after a storm, "makes a calm; and after tears and weeping pours in joyfulness." (Tob. 3:22)

THE EXPECTATION OF DELIVERY. I.

I.

The infant Jesus, shut up in His Mother's womb, earnestly desired that hour in which He was to appear to the world and commence the work of our salvation. He might have then said, as He afterwards did: "I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized; and how am I straitened until it be accomplished!" (Luke 12:50) He remained in this state, however, for nine months, and would not exempt Himself for one day. He had embraced our common nature, and He would not refuse any of the inconveniences or sufferings which were attached to it. What man would suffer himself to be so long imprisoned when he could avoid it? Christ suffered it, and for your sake. Be ashamed, then, to complain of small inconveniences, when God suffered so much.

II.

The desire of the blessed Virgin to see her Son, whom she knew to be "God of God," increased in proportion as the happy moment approached. She might well apply to herself those words of the Canticle: "Who shall give thee to me, that I may find thee and kiss thee." (Cant. 8:1) In the meantime, whilst her heart was filled with the most ardent affections of love, she resigned herself with perfect conformity to the will of God, in regard to the time, place, and manner of her delivery, because she was convinced that "God hath care of us." (1 Pet. 5:7) Imitate her example, and "cast all your solicitude upon God."

III.

How well the divine Infant rewarded His Mother whilst He remained shut up in her womb! If at the first moment of His conception He bestowed upon her such extraordinary grace and favor, what increase of these did He not give her throughout the nine months during which she carried Him in her womb? He illuminated her understanding with an infused light and knowledge of the mysteries of faith; He inflamed her will with more than seraphic affections of love. He was no burden, no pain, no trouble to her; but a most welcome guest, and an effectual comforter on all occasions. He would be so to you, with due proportion, in the sacrament, if you would give Him a similar entertainment and not immediately distract your mind with other affairs.

THE EXPECTATION OF DELIVERY. II.

I.

This expectation existed on the part of the Fathers in Limbo; they prayed and cried out continually with Isaiah: "Drop dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior." (Isa. 45:8) They longed to be set free from bondage in order that they might enjoy the beatific vision. "Shine forth," they exclaimed from their prison-house, "before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Stir up thy might, and come to save us." (Ps. 79:3); Rouse your sluggish mind with these inflamed desires. "Be ashamed" (as was the reflection of St. Bernard) "that the display of so much kindness does not cause in you a joy corresponding to that inflamed desire, which the mere promise excited in the hearts of the ancient Saints."

II.

What expectation a devout soul ought to entertain of having Christ spiritually born in itself by grace! "What is my hope? Is it not the Lord?" (Ps. 38:8) In this expectation, we ought to employ all the faculties of our souls. Our memories and understandings should attentively consider His admirable virtues and perfections. Our wills should be exercised in ardent affections of love, and in desires of representing in ourselves what we behold in Him, in order that we may, with the Apostle, "behold the glory of the Lord with face uncovered, and be transformed into the same image." (2 Cor. 3:18)

III.

We ought not to content ourselves with mere affections and desires, for by these we only conceive Christ; but we must bring Him forth by actions. We must labor in the exercise of Christian perfection " till Christ be formed in us." (Gal. iv. 19.) If our desires do not display themselves in acts of virtue, they will only torture our consciences and prove our ruin. "Desires/'* says the Wise Man, "kill the slothful." (Prov. xxi. 25.) Encourage yourself, therefore, and inflame your heart with the antiphons of the Church used during this holy time. "O wisdom, which issued from the mouth of the Most High, extending from end to end mightily, and sweetly disposing all things, come and teach us the way of prudence, etc."

THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM.

I.

"In those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled." (Luke 2:1) The disposition of Divine Providence was most wonderful. Christ might have been born where, and when, and in whatever circumstances He pleased, but He refused every convenience for Himself, in order to teach us that the spirit of poverty was His favorite virtue. He was born in the middle of winter, when His parents, in consequence of Caesar's edict, were far from Nazareth, in order that He might deprive Himself of those small conveniences which their house might afford Him. "Oh the depth of the riches, of the wisdom, and of the knowledge of God!" (Rom. 11:33) Reflect upon this, you who are constantly employed in seeking your own ease and conveniences, and learn what ought to be your practice. Speaking upon this, St. Bernard observes: "Either God is deceived or the world is in an error," because their manners of acting are diametrically opposite. Examine which it is better to follow.

II.

St. Joseph and the Virgin obeyed the edict, though the motive of the Emperor was not the best, and though their obedience was attended with inconvenience. View the holy travelers: they present an object worthy of the divine approbation and of the admiration of men, in consequence of their conformity to the will of God, their patience, and their modesty. Imagine the divine entertainment which the Virgin received from her Son; respect the holy travelers, and venerate that divine poverty which rendered them so pleasing to God.

III.

When they arrived at Bethlehem, they went from one inn to another, but they could not find any accommodation. Good God! There was a place for every other kind of character; but there was no room to be found for the Son of God. "He came unto His own; and His own received Him not." (John 1:11) Observe with what patience they support this trial, and retire into a stable. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head." (Matt. 8:20) Pity, admire, adore. How often have you denied Him accommodation, when your heart was occupied with worldly vanities and earthly follies?