CHRIST, A SACRIFICE.

"I will go into Thy house with burnt offerings; I will pay Thee my vows which my lips have uttered." (Ps. 45:13)

I.

"If thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee, leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift." (Matt. 5:23-24) The Eucharist is, of all others, the most excellent offering that can be made to God as a propitiation for the living and the dead. "Christ hath loved us and hath delivered Himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness." (Eph. 5:2) What a treasure we possess in this sacrifice!

II.

This Divine Sacrifice possesses three excellences and advantages above all the excellences and advantages of the sacrifices of the Old Law: (1) In its exterior decorum, for it is more decent and is performed without the revolting sight of burning or the effusion of blood; (2) In its interior worth and dignity, it far excels the sacrifices of the Old Law, for, in them, only beasts were immolated, but in this the Son of God is offered; (3) As to the effects; for this Sacrifice possesses a virtue and efficacy which are beneficial to the living in this world, to the suffering souls in purgatory, and productive of increasing glory to the Saints in heaven.

III.

In order to offer this Sacrifice with advantage, singular piety, in the first place, is requisite. God requires, in a moral sense, what He required from the Priests of the Old Law in a physical point of view. If any one of the descendants of Aaron was deformed in body, he might eat of the food which had been offered, "yet so that he enter not within the veil nor approach to the altar, because he hath a blemish and he must not defile My sanctuary." (Lev. 21:23) The next requisite is fraternal charity and brotherly union. "If thou offer thy gift, etc., first go to be reconciled to thy brother." This was required in all sacrifices, but it is chiefly called for in that of the Holy Eucharist, which was instituted to unite us all together as members of the same Body, under the same Head. Hence it is called, in the language of the Council of Trent, "the seal of unity, the bond of charity, and the symbol of concord."

FIRST CALL OF THE APOSTLES. I.

I.

When Christ had determined to choose His Apostles as agents to spread His Gospel over the whole world, He did not go to Jerusalem, to Rome, nor Athens, in order to select the wise, the rich and the noble, whom He might have as easily drawn to Himself, as He did the Magi at His birth; but He chose such as were poor, simple and contemptible in this world. "O the depth of the riches of the wisdom, and of the knowledge of God." (Rom. 11:33) Who, in our days, would have made such a selection? Jesus Christ made this choice for two reasons: 1. In order to show His esteem of, and, consequently, the value of humility; a virtue essentially necessary for His Apostles and their Successors. 2. He chose these men in order to display more effectually the power of God in producing great effects by the means of weak instruments. "The foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that He may confound the wise." (1 Cor. 1:27)

II.

These men were not chosen from among the assembled people, which would seem to be necessary to give authority to their preaching; but they were selected, as it were, by chance, and without any notoriety. Thus, when two of John the Baptist's disciples heard their master say in commendation of Christ, "Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:36), they followed Him. Christ, turning around, courteously asked them, "What seek you?" and having conducted them home, invited them to a further acquaintance. Learn to be courteous and obliging to all, to conduct your affairs solidly well and without noise and ostentation.

III.

One of these disciples was St. Andrew, who, being himself inflamed with the love of God, immediately wishes to impart the same feelings to others. Finding therefore his brother Peter, he brings him to Christ, and says to him: "We have found the Messiah." By a special act of Divine Mercy you have found the Messiah, in preference to so many others, who remain in the spiritual darkness of heresy, infidelity, or schism. Be grateful for the favor, and endeavor by every means which your state of life affords, to bring others to the way, the truth, and the light. "For God has given to every one a commandment concerning his neighbor." (Ecclus. 17:12)

FIRST CALL OF THE APOSTLES. II.

I.

"On the following day He would go into Galilee, and He findeth Philip." (John 1:43) Christ found many others on the road, but He found Philip in a special manner, and selecting him for eternal life said: "Follow Me." Philip immediately obeyed the Divine call. Reflect how many thousands of able and renowned characters God has suffered to perish in their errors, and has selected you like another Philip, and "has made thou as a chosen arrow in His quiver; He hath hidden you." (Isa. 49:2) Take care that you follow the Lord as Philip did, and do not undervalue so great a favor.

II.

"Philip findeth Nathaniel and said to him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth." (John 1:46) "The love of God," says St. Gregory, "is not idle." Philip, as soon as he discovered Christ, immediately hastened to bring others to Him. Ponder the words of Christ: "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile." Examine if your conduct entitle you to such an honorable testimony; endeavor at least to merit it. Constantly preserve purity of intention, for "a heart that goeth two ways shall not have success." (Ecclus. 3:28)

III.

Jesus said to Nathaniel: "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." Convince yourself practically that everything is exposed to the eyes of God, that the most secret of your actions cannot escape Him, and that He is perfectly acquainted with every one of your thoughts in all their bearings, and every one of your most private intentions. Take care to present to Him in yourself an object worthy of His approbation. Ponder also the noble confession of Nathaniel: "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel." (John 1:49)

SECOND CALL OF PETER AND ANDREW.

I.

"Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee saw two brothers." (Matt. 4:18) The first call of these two Apostles, says Augustine, was only to a familiarity, and they afterward returned to their ordinary occupation of fishing. The second, was to leave all to follow Him, and to become His Apostles. Thus a soul is disposed by degrees to perfection. Ponder the import of these words: "Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men." You must follow the footsteps of Christ if you wish to be a fisher of men.

II.

How great is the dignity of a fisher of men! "Of all Divine things the most Divine is to cooperate with God for the salvation of men." Examine how you can concur to this noble work according to your state of life and vocation. It was the salvation of souls that called Jesus Christ down from heaven, from the throne of His glory, and induced Him to undergo so many labors, and ultimately to surrender Himself to pains and torments on the bloody cross. Endeavor, as far as you can by prayer, counsel, and particularly by good example, to assist the Redeemer in His holy design.

III.

"And they immediately, leaving their nets, followed Him." Mark their prompt obedience; they neither excuse themselves, nor plead incapacity, nor poverty. Such ought to be your obedience to God, and to His holy inspirations, to superiors, and those who are in your regard, the representatives of God, without any complaint, murmur, or excuse. Worldly cares and business are the nets that entangle and hinder man from surrendering himself without reserve to God. You must therefore leave all if you wish to follow Christ and lead an apostolic life. " For no man can serve two masters." (Matt. 6:24)

CALL OF JAMES AND JOHN.

I.

"Going on from thence, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother." (Matt. 4:21) Observe how Christ first called to the Apostleship two brothers, Peter and Andrew, and then James and John, in order that on these, as on four pillars, He might build His Church. He also wished to teach us that His Disciples ought to be well grounded in fraternal affection, according to His own expressions, used afterwards: "By this shall all men know, that you are My Disciples, if you have love one for another." (John 13:35) Examine yourself, therefore, most seriously upon this point, and remember, that fraternal charity is an essential characteristic of Christianity.

II.

"And they immediately left their nets and their father, and followed him." Those who aspire to the perfection of a religious life, or who wish to lead an apostolic life, must not only renounce their worldly possessions, but even their parents, for Christ's sake. They must convert their human affections into Spiritual love, and make them subordinate to the Divine service. Examine whether your human affections do not sometimes prevent you from aspiring to higher perfection and from leading a more virtuous and regular life.

III.

The word "immediately" is not inserted in the text by the sacred writer without mystery. The two brothers were mending their nets with their aged parent, but as soon as Christ called them, they left their nets as they were. The age of their father, his probable wants, and the need that he might have of their services, presented no opposition to their calling. They knew that the God, whom they followed, when they left their parent, would in His kind providence protect him; and would take better care of him than they could. Their obedience was prompt and perfect. Let your obedience be like theirs; avoid making excuses when God calls you, or the voice of obedience speaks.

CALL OF MATTHEW.

I.

"And when Jesus passed on from thence, He saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew, and He saith to him, follow Me." (Matt. 9:9) Great was the force of this call, which was able to withdraw a man from his riches: and yet the same call, perhaps, would not be forcible enough to withdraw you from smaller impediments. Who can despair of salvation, when he sees public sinners taken out of a custom house, assumed not only to the friendship of God, but raised to the highest dignity of the Apostleship." Truly: "His tender mercies are over all His works." (Ps. 144:9)

II.

Christ did not refuse to eat with Matthew and other publicans, in order that He might gain them, although the hypocritical Pharisees murmured at it. Learn from this that there is nothing so holy as to escape the censures of the wicked. Hence, if on any occasion it be your fate to suffer reprehension or slander for having performed good actions, remember that "the disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord." (Matt. 10:24)

III.

Consider the mild reply which Christ made to His calumniators: "They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are sick; for I am not come to call the just but sinners." (Matt. 9:12) Since Christ presents Himself to your consideration as a physician, reveal your distress, wounds and diseases to him: for, as St. Augustine observes: "No disease is incurable to the omnipotent Physician; only permit yourself to be cured by Him; do not hinder His hand, He knows what He is doing; be content not only when He strokes you, but also when He employs the lancet."

CALL OF PAUL.

I.

"And Saul as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1), made every exertion to destroy the infant Church. Ponder the infinite mercy of God, in regard to Saul. He was employed in persecuting the faithful, and crushing the rising Spirit of Christianity, when our Lord, on the contrary, not seeking revenge, but "thinking thoughts of peace" (Jer. 29:11), mercifully prevents him, and brings him to a sense of his duty. In the full career of his persecution, He casts him from his horse, and calls upon him: "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute Me?" (Acts 9:6) Learn to reverence Christ in your neighbors, and remember that injuries done to them are done to Christ Himself.

II.

"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Ponder his admirable resignation to the Divine will. So you ought to resign yourself to the Divine will, and to offer up your prayers to Him. You ought to be ready for His every dispensation, and do all you can to know His will in all things. When you have discovered it, no earthly consideration whatsoever ought to prevent you from putting it into execution.

III.

"Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee, what thou must do." Although our Lord, in a miraculous manner, prostrated Saul on the ground, yet He would not instruct him Himself, but sent him to Ananias to learn His Divine will. Learn to reverence and acknowledge God in your superiors and His will in theirs. Observe, also, how Saul spent three whole days in prayer, without either eating or drinking, before he had his sight restored to him. Fasting and prayer are the best dispositions for the receiving of spiritual sight. Lastly, until Ananias had imposed his hands upon him, "his eyes being open he saw nothing." This represents the state of a sinner, whence it is said: "Blind the heart of this people, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand." (Isa. 6:10 and Luke 8:10)