CHRIST AS JESUS, OR SAVIOR.

"Behold thy Savior cometh; save me, O God, by Thy name." (Isa. 62.:11; Ps. 53:3.)

I.

"His name was called Jesus" (Luke 2:21), that is. Savior. With good reason did He receive this name; for on this day He first shed His blood, which was to be completely drained from His sacred body on Calvary. On that occasion was fulfilled the prophecy of the Psalmist: "With Him there is plentiful redemption." (Ps. 129:7) If the Patriarch Joseph, and some others, be styled saviors in Holy Writ, because they delivered the people from famine or temporal death, with how muck more reason does this appellation belong to Christ, who has done all that was necessary, on His part, to deliver the whole world from everlasting death! "He shall save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

II.

This Savior will visit you today in the Holy Eucharist, "to save your soul out of distresses" (Ps. 30:8); to deliver you from your spiritual enemies; and to give you strength and courage to surmount every obstacle to salvation. He will purify you with His sacred blood, which He shed this day. But you must cooperate with His holy designs; for He will not bestow His blessings on unwilling souls. This day has put a termination to the year which you have spent. It cannot return: it is buried in the gulf of eternity. What satisfaction do the misdeeds of the past year now afford you? If you had the year to spend again, how many actions would you omit, which you have done, and how many things would you do which you have omitted to do! While you have, as yet, time, redeem the lost moments; spend the ensuing year as you would wish the past to have been spent, and offer the resolution of doing so to your Lord in the sacrament, as the best present you can make Him on this holy day.

III.

You ought to prepare your soul, armed with this resolution, for His coming. You can never keep it without humility; for, as the Prophet says,:"He will save the humble of spirit." (Ps. 33:19) Everything connected with the Mysteries of the Incarnation and Nativity ought to inspire a love of that virtue, and induce you to practice it. This humility, however, must be accompanied with confidence in God. Say, then, with the Royal Prophet: "Show forth Thy wonderful mercies, Thou who savest those who trust in Thee. I am Thine, save me. Uphold Thy servant unto good. A contrite and humble heart, O God; Thou wilt not despise." (Ps. 16:7.; 118:94, 122; 50:19)

OUR LORD'S CIRCUMCISION. I.

I.

Christ was not subject to the law of circumcision; because He was incapable of contracting original sin, and circumcision was its intended remedy. He wished, nevertheless, to undergo this painful ceremony: 1. To honor the law in His own person. 2. Not to offend others by His singularity. 3. That He might declare Himself to be the son of Abraham, whose descendants this law regarded. 4. That, whilst yet an infant, He might show, by His sufferings, His love for mankind. There can be no better proof of love than to suffer for the person whom you love. Learn from the example of Christ a respect for the law of God; to do virtuous works of supererogation; to despise human respect; and, by mortifying yourself, to prove your love of your suffering Savior.

II.

The Divine Infant willingly offers Himself to His eternal Father, to satisfy for your transgressions: He patiently suffers the pain of circumcision, and rejoices because He is promoting your salvation. Excite your heart to suffer something for Christ, who suffered so much for you. Undergo cheerfully, in the first place, that mortification which is necessary for the observance of the law of God in general, and for the performance of your own particular duty. Add to this, voluntary acts of mortification, from a spirit of imitating Christ and atoning for past sins.

III.

The chief virtues which Christ exercised in His circumcision were obedience, humility, and charity. He was not bound by the law, yet He subjected Himself to it. And, since circumcision was an acknowledgment of subjection to the whole law, he undertook to observe it entirely. Circumcision was the intended remedy of original sin, and, consequently, an acknowledgment of having contracted it. Christ could neither sin, nor contract it. He received, however, the stigma of it. Wonderful humility! His charity for us prompted Him to undergo all these pains. His love of us did not induce Him to seek for glory and honor; but for mortification and punishment, even in His infancy. Let such obedience, humility, and charity, prompt you to be a follower of Christ — not in word only, but in fact.

OUR LORD'S CIRCUMCISION. II.

I.

"His name was called Jesus." (Luke 2:21) After the painful act of circumcision, a name is given Him, which is "above every name." (Phil. 2:10) God honors those who suffer for His sake, and exalts those who humble themselves. Observe with what reverence His Blessed Mother pronounces His name, at the utterance of which "every knee should bow of those who are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father." Contemplate the joy of all the celestial spirits, particularly of His Blessed Mother, who might well say with the Prophet: "I will joy in God my Jesus." (Hab. 3:18) Do you rejoice, also, in this sacred name: you have special reasons to do so, "for there is not salvation in any other name." (Acts 4:12)

II.

Consider the excellencies of this divine name of Jesus, or Savior. As Savior, He has freed us from our most powerful enemy. To overcome that proud foe, He has displayed His wisdom, by appearing in the form of a servant, and by concealing under that form the nature of God. As our Redeemer, He has suffered, to release us from bondage. This Savior has manifested His sanctity in freeing others from sin, by assuming the punishment Himself. He has proved His divinity; for no one but God could satisfy for the debt due in consequence of sin. His dominion, then, extends over all redeemed mankind. Do not attempt, therefore, to withdraw yourself from it, by pursuing a conduct different from that which He held.

III.

What reverence is due to this sacred name, and, consequently, how much you ought to honor it! You ought not to be content with honoring it yourself, but you ought to labor in increasing its honor among others. You ought first to begin, however, by yourself: "And whatsoever ye do in word or in work, do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Col. 3:17) If you do not act in this manner, you ought to be afraid of pronouncing that holy name. "Let every one who nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." (2 Tim. 2:19) Say, therefore, with the Prophet: "Help us, O God our Savior; and for the glory of Thy name, O Lord, deliver us, and forgive us our sins for Thy name's sake." (Ps. 78:9)

SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION. I.

I.

Every Christian ought to be spiritually circumcised, according to the example of his Lord and Master. This spiritual circumcision is enjoined in the words of the prophet Jeremiah: "Be circumcised to the Lord, in your hearts, ye men of Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest my indignation come forth like fire, and burn, and there be no one that can quench it, because of the wickedness of your thoughts." (Jer. 4:4) Convince yourself of the necessity of this spiritual circumcision and put it in practice, lest you incur the indignation of heaven.

II.

This circumcision, as St. Bernard says, must extend itself to the whole man. Examine your heart, therefore, narrowly; cut off all inordinate passions, and every superfluity, which may prevent your spiritual progress. In the first place, you must destroy all obstinacy of judgment and opinion, which is the source and origin of infinite evils. From this flow all heresies, schisms, and all illusions of the devil; all dissensions and strifes are referred to this. Detest this obstinacy, therefore, as the bane of all virtue. Learn to submit your judgment, therefore, to the Church, your superiors and directors, who hold the place of God. "Lean not upon thy own judgment, and be not wise in thy own conceit." (Prov. 3:5, 7)

III.

This circumcision must extend itself particularly to self-love, which is the greatest enemy of salvation. It blinds the understanding, and inflames the mind with "many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition." (1 Tim. 6:9) Such are the desires of possessing wealth, of enjoying the conveniences of life, of being honored and esteemed by men, of being preferred before others; again, the desire of vain and unprofitable knowledge, and the love of vanity and pleasures. "Cut off," therefore, all these passions, "and cast them from you." (Matt. 5:30.) Deny yourself, and follow Christ.

SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION. II.

I.

This spiritual circumcision ought not only to extend itself to the inward man; but, also, to the external senses. Reflect how many souls have lost the end of their creation by a single glance of the eye. How many others have perished by the indulgence of the other senses! Restrain your eyes, therefore, from all improper or dangerous objects; your ears from everything that savors of vanity or curiosity, and much more of immodesty, murmuring, and detraction. Regulate your taste, by refraining from excess in eating and drinking; "for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink." (Rom. 14:17)

II.

You must not omit to circumcise the vices of the tongue, and to cut off all detraction and murmuring, and whatever tends to sow and propagate discord. Correct everything in your conversation which is contentious, injurious, impertinent, or unseemly. Never speak with disrespect of God and holy things. Avoid flattery, double-dealing, and dissimulation. Remember you are a follower of Christ, of whom it is said: "He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." (1 Pet. 2:22) Examine yourself on each of these particulars, and pray with holy David: "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth and a door round about my lips." (Ps. 140:3) For "if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man." (Jas. 3:2) But, on the contrary, "if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain." (Jas 1:26.)

III.

You must finally extend this spiritual circumcision to all superfluities regarding the body, as clothing, sleep, amusements, and the other conveniences of life. "Having food and wherewith to be covered, with these we are content," says the Apostle. (1 Tim. 6:8) Divest yourself, then, of all these superfluities, in order that you may become more like Christ, who said of Himself: "I am poor, and in labors from my youth." (Ps. 137:16)