Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/103

 which He  shed  this  day. But you  must  co-operate  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. xxxiii.  19.)  Everything  connected with  the  mysteries  of  the  Incarnation  and  Nativity ought  to  inspire  a  love  of  that  virtue,  and  induce you to  practise  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. xvi. 7.;  cxviii.  94,  122;  1.  19.)

I. Christ  was  not  subject  to  the  law  of  circumcision; because He  was  incapable  of  contracting  original  sin,  and circumcision was  its  remedy. He wished,  nevertheless,