CHRIST, THE PEACE OF YOUR SOUL.

"Save me, O God, for the waters are come in, even unto my soul." (Ps. 68:1)

I.

In the Gospel of today, Christ is recorded to have appeased the tempest on the sea. We are on a tempestuous sea as long as we exist in this world; we are continually harassed by storms: the winds of temptation blow, and raise the waves of our passions and concupiscences. If we suffer these waves to increase, we cannot subdue them, and we shall infallibly perish. "The wicked," says the Prophet, "are like the raging sea, which cannot rest." (Isa. 57:20) How many human beings, of every state, condition, and sex, are swallowed up in this ocean, never again to emerge from it!

II.

Nothing but the protecting hand of God can secure us. "He alone rules the power of the sea, and appeases the motion of the waves thereof." (Ps. 88:10) He is the peace and tranquility of the soul, and appeases its turbulent motions at His pleasure; for in the Gospel of today: "He commanded the winds of the sea, and there came a great calm." (Matt. 8:26) He will do the same today in your soul, if you receive Him as you ought.

III.

God often permits us to be tossed to and fro with the waves of trouble and the winds of temptation, while He himself seems to sleep, in order to try our constancy and increase our glory. Besides, He is much pleased at the confidence which we place in Him on such occasions. He reprehended St. Peter for his want of confidence when He said to him, "O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?" (Matt. 14:31) Examine with what temptations and passions you are most assailed, and approaching Him with confidence at the Eucharistic table, cry out with the Apostles: "Lord, save us: we perish" (Matt. 8:25); or with holy David: "Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the deep swallow me up." (Ps. 68:16)

CHRIST'S GOING TO THE TEMPLE. I.

I.

The Jewish law required that thrice in the year every male should present himself before the Lord at Jerusalem. Hence, St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin also went: he, from a motive of obedience to the law; she, of devotion to the house of God. Christ accompanied them both to glorify the eternal Father, and to give Him solemn thanks for all His benefits received, as well general as particular, in consequence of the institution of the law. Learn, hence, to visit the house of God willingly, and to behave in it with all the respect that the sanctity of the place requires.

II.

"His parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day oi the Pasch." (Luke 2:41) Learn, hence, constancy and perseverance in good works. They did not present themselves in the house of God through custom, although the custom was a good one, but they were actuated by a spirit of real devotion. Such should be your case when you are employed in things that regard the service of God, particularly when you frequent the sacraments. Nothing in religion should be done merely from custom or human respect.

III.

"And after they had fulfilled the days, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem." Our Savior here gives us an example of renouncing the ties of flesh and blood when the service and honor of God are concerned. Hence, upon another occasion, He observed: "He who loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me." (Matt. 10:37) All earthly friends are to be left for God, if He require it; and every advice of theirs to the contrary ought to be rejected, as proceeding from the enemies of God. Hence St. Jerome exclaims: "Trample over your father, trample over your mother, and with dry cheeks fly to the standard of the cross."

CHRIST'S GOING TO THE TEMPLE. II.

I.

Consider how Christ was employed during those three days. He was wholly occupied in divine things, in prayer and in conversation with the Doctors. Many spiritual writers think that He lived during those days without any other food than that which He procured by begging. This He did from His extreme love of poverty, and to fulfill the expression of the Prophet: "I am a beggar, and poor: the Lord is careful for Me." (Ps. 39:18)

II.

Meditate on the behavior of Christ among the Doctors. The modesty of His countenance, words, and actions won their admiration to so great a degree, that they admitted the Divine Youth into their company. With all humility He asked them questions, and listened to their answers as a scholar and not a teacher, although He was the Wisdom of the Divinity Himself. His questions were prudent, and the answers that He gave to their questions astonished them. He zealously sought the glory of His Father in all this, and He did not act from ostentation. How contrary is the conduct of most scholars. They are ever on the watch to discover an opportunity of displaying their little knowledge, forgetful that knowledge is a dangerous thing because man has so many natural inclinations to abuse it.

III.

How his affectionate parents grieved at the absence of their Son! With all humility they ascribe this absence to their own fault. It was no fault of theirs; but the man who is truly humble will sometimes attribute to himself more of fault than is his due. They immediately began to search for Him with amorous sorrow. They have recourse to God in prayer, and beg Him to restore their dear Son. It frequently happens that we lose Christ in the day of prosperity, and that we do not discover our loss until the dark night of adversity arrives. Beg of God never to abandon you, and say with His Prophet, "Forsake me not, O Lord my God; do not Thou depart from me." (Ps. 37:22)

CHRIST SOUGHT FOR BY HIS PARENTS.

I.

What great care the Virgin and St. Joseph took in seeking for their Son, who did not appear, during the first night of their journey! "And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him." (Luke 2:45.) They passed by no place on their return, and omitted inquiring in no part of the city where they thought it probable He might be found. Well might the Virgin express her feelings in the words of the Canticle: "Show me, O Thou whom my soul loveth, where Thou liest in the midday in the streets, and in the broad ways." (Cant. 1:6) Mark with what fervor you ought to seek for your God, either when you have lost His personal presence by mortal sin, or His gracious familiarity by tepidity.

II.

The anxious parents could not find their Son among His kindred or acquaintance. Hence you are to infer that you ought to divest yourself of all inordinate affection for your kindred, country, and friends if you desire to enjoy the company of your Jesus. St. Bernard justly inquires: "How shall I find you, my good Jesus, among my own kindred, when you could not be found among your own?"

III.

He was not to be found either in the more agreeable, or more honorable, or more frequented walks of life. Nor did the spouse in the Canticle find her beloved in "the bed" of ease and pleasure, nor in the "broad ways" of distraction, dissipation, and forgetfulness of God. Christ was found, at last, in the temple, among the Doctors. Seek your Lord, then, in His Church, by fervent prayer, and, though you do not immediately find Him, persevere in the search; for, as the Wise Man observes: "Wisdom is easily seen by those that love her, and is found by them that seek her." (Wis. 6:13)

CHRIST FOUND BY HIS PARENTS.

I.

"And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple." (Luke 2:46) Imagine what joy the Holy Virgin felt when she at last discovered her Son in the temple. We seldom know how to appreciate a blessing until we have lost it; and when we regain it, our joy is complete. This is the case in worldly blessings; let it be so in those which are of a spiritual and more elevated nature. When you have regained the grace of God after having lost it by sin, pour out your whole soul in thanksgiving, and cautiously avoid the danger of a similar loss.

II.

The Blessed Virgin addressed her Son: "Son, why hast Thou done so to us ?" (Luke 2:48) In this expression, there was no complaint against His conduct but an amorous manifestation of her past sorrow and present happiness. Such was the expression of Christ to His Father: "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46) "Behold," continues the Virgin, "Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." Observe her humility: she styles her spouse, though only the reputed father, the "father" of her Divine Son. She names him first, though far unequal in dignity, to teach you to prefer others to yourself. They sought for Him sorrowing, and therefore they found Him; "for those who sow in tears shall reap in joy." (Ps. 125:5)

III.

Consider the answer which Christ made to His blessed mother: "Did you not know that I must be about those things that are My Father's?" (Luke 2:49) A divine sentiment, and deserving of our continual recollection. We are to prefer, then, the service of God to every other affair whatever, and to every other service and duty. Frequently examine yourself, if you are occupied in the things that are your Father's. If you are not, you are losing your time, and trifling with the best gift of a bountiful and just Providence.

CHRIST IS OBEDIENT TO HIS PARENTS. I.

I.

Our Divine Model having now performed the will of His Father, notwithstanding His love of solitude, prayer, and the immediate worship of God in the temple, "went down with His parents, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them." (Luke 2:51) From this action, we learn a very important lesson; viz., that the most exalted and sublime actions are not always the most pleasing to God; that the highest degree of virtue is to submit ourselves to others; and that we ought to conform our exterior to the condition of our calling, and to perform the ordinary actions which belong to that calling with perfection. "And His Mother kept all these words in her heart." Do you also keep the word of God in your heart, and it will preserve you.

II.

What an admirable example of obedience is conveyed in these short words: "and He was subject to them"! Ponder with St. Bernard, "who, and to whom? God, to men: God, to whom the Angels are subject, whom the principalities and powers obey, was subject to Mary." In what was He subject? In everything, even in the meanest. "The Word and Wisdom of God did not despise," but obeyed, "a woman and a carpenter."

III.

With good reason does the same Saint exclaim: "Learn, O man, to obey; dust, learn to submit; be ashamed, proud ashes. God humbled Himself; and dare you exalt yourself? God submits Himself to man; and do you seek to rule, and to prefer yourself to your Creator? If, being man, you refuse to follow the example of your equal man, surely it will not be beneath you to follow the example of your Creator."

CHRIST IS OBEDIENT TO HIS PARENTS. II.

I.

In order that you may be the more excited to imitate this admirable example of obedience that Christ has given you in regard to your superiors or directors under whom God has placed you, or may hereafter place you, meditate on the many advantages that are derived from this virtue. Nothing more acceptable can be offered to God. God is appeased with victims and sacrifice, as the chief acts of religious worship; but He assures us Himself that obedience is still more acceptable to Him. "Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken rather than to offer the fat of rams." (1 Kings 15:22) And with good reason, observes St. Gregory, for "in sacrifice the flesh of another is offered, but in obedience our own will is killed and the whole man offered in sacrifice."

II.

There is no safer way to heaven than the road of obedience. Saints and Holy Fathers teach us that there is nothing more dangerous in a spiritual life than to be our own guide and to follow our own judgment. Hence, St. Bernard observes: "He that is his own master has a fool for his scholar;" for, as Solomon writes: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he who is wise hearkeneth unto counsels." (Prov. 12:15)

III.

In the virtue of obedience, all other virtues are included, and therefore by Holy Fathers it is called the mother and guardian of them all. He who is obedient cannot fail to be humble, patient, meek, charitable, and master of himself; for, as the Wise Man says: "An obedient man shall speak of victory." (Prov. 21:28) Form a growing esteem, then, for this virtue, and exercise it in imitation of Christ whenever occasions offer.