Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/101



I. "  Let  us  go  over  to  Bethlehem,  and  let  us  see  this word,  which  is  come  to  pass." (Luke ii.  15.)  Observe the prompt  obedience  of  the  shepherds,  and  learn  thence to obey  with  promptitude  the  divine  inspirations. " For they  came  with  haste.  No  one  can  see  Christ  slothfully,"  says  St. Ambrose. Go you,  also,  over  frequently to Bethlehem,  and  meditate  on  the  mysteries,  which were there  exhibited  for  your  sanctification  and  salvation. 'Say with  holy  David,  "  Oh  that  some  man  would give  me  a  drink  of  the  water  out  of  the  cistern  which  is in  Bethlehem!" (2 Kings  xxiii.  15.)  This  cistern,  in your  regard,  is  the  manger;  and  the  water  is  Christ,  who is "the  fountain  of  living  water"  (Jer.  ii.  13),  "and  the fountain  of  wisdom." (Ecclus. i.  5.)

II. "And they  found  Mary  and  Joseph;  and  the  Infant lying  in  a  manger." (Luke ii.  16.)  Hence  you  may learn that  the  easiest  way  of  finding  Christ  is"  by  means of  the  blessed  Virgin  and  the  intercession  of  the  Saints. Observe  with  what  spiritual  joy  the  shepherds  perform their  acts  of  adoration.  They  "return,"  and  recount what  they  have  seen  to  others,  "glorifying  and  praising God for  all  the  things  they  had  heard."  (Luke  ii.) Unite  your  adorations  with  theirs,  and  glorify  and  praise God,  by  imitating  the  example  of  this  new-born  Infant.

III. " But  Mary  kept  all  these  words,  pondering  them in  her  heart." (Luke ii.  19.)  Observe  the  four  classes  of people  that  were  then  in  Bethlehem. 1. Some  passed  by the  crib,  saw  the  shepherds  and  the  object  of  their  wonder; but, seeing  nothing  themselves  extraordinary,  passed  on,