Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/104

 to undergo  this  painful  ceremony,  i.  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. Lastly, 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  Saviour.

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  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,