CHRIST, THE GIVER OF HEARING AND SPEECH TO YOUR SOUL.

"O Lord, Thou wilt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise." (Ps. 50:17)

I.

In the Gospel of today, Christ is recorded to have cured a person, who "was deaf and dumb." (Mark 7:32) Consider yourself to be of this character in a spiritual point of view, as you really are, if you be deaf to God's grace and silent in the divine praises. How often have you resisted His holy inspirations, exciting you to compunction, patience, humility and, in a word, to perfection? Well might He address you by the mouth of His Prophet: "I called, and you did not answer; I spoke, and you did not hear." (Isa. 65:12) Reflect, also, how dumb you are in speaking of God, and of divine things, whilst you feel that much fruit might be derived, both by you and others, were you to engage oftener in spiritual conversation. You may truly say with the Prophet, but in a different sense: "I cannot speak, for I am a child " (Jer. 1:6), in what regards spiritual matters.

II.

He will visit you in the Eucharist today, of Whom it is said in the Gospel: "He hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." (Mark 7:37) If He did this in a corporal sense, how much more willing will He be to do it in a spiritual sense, if you be prepared to receive Him. He will open your heart to hear His voice, and make your tongue eloquent in His praises to the edification of others. "The Lord hath given me a learned tongue, that I should know how to uphold by word him that is weary. In the morning, He wakeneth my ear, that I may hear Him as a master." (Isa. 1:4)

III.

The preparations necessary for receiving this Guest are: 1. Frequent prayer, for the Disciples in the Gospel of today "besought Him to lay His hands upon them." 2. Retirement from the noise and bustle of the world, for Christ did not cure the dumb man until He had "taken him aside from the crowd." 3. Humility, for "wisdom openeth the mouth of the dumb, and makes the tongues of infants eloquent." (Wis. 10:21) Be, therefore, an infant, that is, without deceit and little in your eyes, in order that you may deserve to be rendered eloquent in the praises of your Lord.

JOHN'S MESSAGE TO CHRIST. I.

I.

"John heard in prison the works of Christ." (Matt. 11:2) Ponder the admirable courage of this Precursor of the Messiah. He was not afraid of publicly reprehending the impious marriage of the wicked king, but preferred chains, and prison, and death itself to the weakness of dissembling or betraying the truth. Such ought to be the character of all good Christians, particularly of apostolic men. They ought to be full of zeal for the cause of God, to be constant and firm in asserting his rights, and they ought not to know how to yield either to threats or flattery.

II.

John, being in prison, sent two of his disciples to ask of Christ: "Art Thou He, that art to come?" The Baptist did not himself doubt whether Christ was the Messiah, but he wished his disciples to be confirmed in their faith. Charity always seeks the advantage of others. Do you, on your part, rejoice and give thanks to God, for His having long ago come amongst us, and not having held the world any longer in suspense. Be grateful for the benefits resulting from His Incarnation.

III.

To this question Christ answers: "Go and relate to John, what you have heard and seen: The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them." Christ does not in express terms declare that He is the Messiah, to avoid even the shadow of boasting, but proves it from His works. "Louder," says St. Bernard, "is the sound of works, than of words." It is your duty to prove yourself to be a good Christian, and a follower of Jesus Christ in your state of life, whatever it may be, not by words, but by actions. Professions are easily made, but they are of no avail unless they be supported by corresponding deeds. "Let her works," says the Wise Man of the virtuous woman, "praise her." (Prov. 31:31) Besides, since Christ has been so liberal in bestowing corporal favors, as sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and the like, you have every reason to hope for spiritual benefits from Him.

JOHN'S MESSAGE TO CHRIST. II.

I.

When the disciples of St. John had left Christ, He began to speak in commendation of their master. He praised his constancy in virtue; He said that he was not like a reed tossed and bent in every direction by the wind, in consequence of lightness and weakness, but solidly virtuous. Examine yourself seriously, whether this be your character, or whether, like a reed, you be easily shaken by the breath of men in your good purposes, and without the substance of solid virtue, to support your outward appearance of religion. External appearances of virtue, without the substance, is sacrilegious mockery.

II.

The Baptist is also commended for the austerity of his life, and that he was not "clothed in soft garments." (Matt. 11:8) If you desire to merit the approbation of Christ, you must divest yourself of all superfluities in what regards your body. He is denominated by Christ "an Angel," both in relation to his office and to the purity of his life. Endeavor to imitate him in his angelic behavior and incomparable purity of life.

III.

Upon this occasion Christ says, "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent bear it away." Reflect how true was this expression in regard to St. John, to the Martyrs, and in a word, to all the Saints. There are two descriptions of Christian violence, one exterior, and the other interior. Both are necessary for a virtuous life. The first curbs the senses, the second brings under proper restraint the wanderings of the imagination and the irregular desires of the will. With good reason St. Jerome observes: "In proportion as you offer violence to yourself, in the same proportion will you advance." Examine your conduct carefully on this point.

MARTYRDOM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

I.

"Herod made a supper for his birthday for the princes." (Mark 6:21) Worldly men place their happiness in the enjoyments of this mortal life, which, however, passes away like a shadow. In opposition to this, the Holy Spirit exclaims: "The day of death is better than the day of one's birth." (Eccles. 7:2) The day of our birth introduces us into a world of misery and woe, but the day of our death, if we have spent life well, unites us to God himself. Constantly, therefore, fix your attention on your last moment, and prepare for it in all your actions. Remember your last end and you will never sin.

II.

During the festive reveling of that night, the head of a most innocent and holy man was asked for and granted. Observe, to what crimes riot and luxury hurry their votaries! Hence, the Wise Man says: "Be not in the feasts of great drinkers." (Prov. 23:20) Herod fell into the precipice of immorality and cruelty, because he would not listen to the words of St. John, which signifies grace. Beware, therefore, lest you expose yourself to the same ruin, by resisting God's holy grace and inspirations. "Thou that despisest, shalt not thou thyself be despised?" (Isa. 33:1)

III.

St. John received his sentence of death with great joy, and with equal constancy submitted to the stroke, which separated his head from his body. His soul then winged her flight into the bosom of Abraham. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints." (Ps. 115:6) Entreat God that you may die the death of the just, and by that means secure a short and easy passage to heaven. Offer yourself frequently to God, and be willing to endure every pain, and even the loss of life, and all its goods, in His holy service. Imitate the example of so many glorious Martyrs, who have died for their faith, by continually practicing virtue, by being constant in your faith and in the exercise of your religious duties.

THE FIVE THOUSAND FED IN THE DESERT. I.

I.

Consider how great was the multitude that followed Christ into the desert, led thither by the fame of His miracles and doctrine. "He had compassion on them, and He began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34) He first gives them spiritual food, and then corporal nourishment. You must retire into the wilderness, that is, you must leave the noise and folly of the world, and form a solitude in your own heart, if you wish to receive the spiritual food of our Lord. "I will lead her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her heart," says God of a faithful soul. Observe, also, the charitable care of the Apostles for the people: "Send away the multitudes," they say, "that, going into the town, they may buy themselves victuals." (Matt. 14:15) Although the request proceeded from a principle of charity in the Apostles, their Master had already determined to surpass it, and to give a still brighter example of it.

II.

Christ, having asked His disciples what food they had to set before the people, they answered: "We have here but five loaves and two fish." These were all the provisions that the Apostles possessed; a few loaves and two fish, although they themselves were fishermen. Observe how promptly they declare what food they had without making any allusion to their own wants, or to the impossibility of procuring food in the desert. Learn, hence, to be kind and charitable to others and remember the command recorded in the book of Tobias: "According to thy ability be merciful." (Tob. 4:8)

III.

Consider the order in which the miracle was performed. When the loaves were brought, Christ commanded "the multitude to sit down on the grass." He raised His eyes to heaven, blessed the loaves and fishes, and commanded His disciples to distribute them. In the same manner ought you to look up to heaven, before you enjoy the benefits of God, "who opens His hand and fills every living creature with blessing." (Ps. 164:16) Hence the virtuous and rational custom of saying grace before meals. Everything that we enjoy comes from God, and every action that we perform ought to be done with a feeling that we are in the sight of God. Hence, royal David sings: "Let the just feast and rejoice before God." (Ps. 67:4)

THE FIVE THOUSAND FED IN THE DESERT. II.

I.

The loaves, by the power of God, were multiplied in the hands of the Disciples, so that, although they were continually distributing the bread, they always found sufficient remaining. In the same manner, by the prayers of Elias, neither meal nor oil was wanting, although the present provision was daily spent. Who would not willingly serve so bountiful and powerful a Lord, "who can furnish a table in the wilderness," (Ps. 77:9) and who can enable you to suck "honey out of the rock, and oil out of the hardest stone." (Deut. 32:13) He will never suffer those to want who trust in Him.

II.

"And they did all eat, and were filled." (Matt. 14:20) The delights of this world may please and even fascinate us for a time, but they can never fill "the cravings of our immortal soul." The capacity of this immortal soul is greater than can be filled with anything earthly and transitory. Being itself immortal, it can only be ultimately satisfied with imperishable goods. Christ alone can satisfy it. Hence the Prophet asks: "Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doth not satisfy you." (Isa. 55:22) Approach, therefore, to Christ, in order that you may be filled.

III.

After all had been fed, Christ ordered His Apostles to collect what remained; and they collected more than had been originally distributed, viz.: "twelve full baskets of fragments." Thus God is accustomed to reward the charity of His servants, and to be liberal to the liberal. "He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord, and He will repay him." (Prov. 19;17) Give, therefore, to your brother, "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over," in order that you may receive the like "into your bosom." (Luke 6:38)

CHRIST FLIES TO AVOID BEING MADE KING.

I.

"Then those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said, this is the Prophet indeed.'' (John 6:4) They were astonished at the prodigious multiplication of the loaves and fishes, and, therefore, resolved to make Christ their king. God performs greater miracles than this every day, by raising harvests from a few grains of corn, and thus supporting all living creatures. Why then do we not make Him the king of our hearts, and obey Him in all things? Why do we not address Him: "Thou art Thyself my king and my God." (Ps. 43:5)

II.

"When Jesus therefore perceived, that they would come to take Him by force, and make Him king, He fled into the mountain Himself alone." (John 6:15) Sovereignty was due to Christ, because He was the Son of God; it was due to His merits, and in consequence of the benefits which He had bestowed on mankind; but He refused to accept of it, and when there was any question concerning it, He fled away and hid Himself. How few are there now in the world who would closely follow Christ's example on a similar occasion. By His example, Christ wishes to teach us to fly from honors, and to court humility. Examine your conscience on this pointy and see whether you do not rather seek after such occupations as are attended with luster and reputation than follow the humble example of your Lord and master. See whether you do not at least prefer yourself to your companions or neighbors.

III.

St. Matthew writes of Christ on this occasion: "He went up into the mountain alone, to pray." (Matt. 14:23) He thus teaches us to have recourse to prayer when we are tempted by pride or ambition. It was His usual custom to retire from society to pray alone, not that He stood in need of prayer, as we do, since He always beheld the face of God by the beatific vision, but He wished to give us an example. Imitate Him, therefore, and join together the active and the contemplative life,, as He did. "Let nothing," says Ecclesiasticus, "hinder thee from praying always." (Ecclus. 18;22)