Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/105

 even in  His  infancy. Let such  obedience,  humility,  and charity, prompt  you  to  be  a  follower  of  Christ — not  in word  only,  but  in  fact.

I. "  His  name  was  called  Jesus." (Luke ii.  21.)  After the painful  act  of  circumcision,  a  name  is  given  Him, which is  "  above  every  name." (Phil. ii.  10.)  God  honors those who  suffer  for  His  sake,  and  exalts  those  who  humble themselves. Observe with  what  reverence  His  divine mother pronounces  His  name,  at  the  utterance  of  which " every  knee  should  bow  of  those  who  are  in  heaven,  on earth,  and  under  the  earth:  and  every  tongue  should confess  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  in  the  glory  of  God the  Father." Contemplate the  joy  of  all  the  celestial spirits, particularly  of  His  blessed  mother,  who  might  well say with  the  Prophet,  "I  will  joy  in  God  my  Jesus." (Habac. iii.  18.)  Do  you  rejoice,  also,  in  this  sacred name: you  have  special  reasons  to  do  so,  "  for  there  is not  salvation  in  any  other  name." (Acts iv.  12.)

II. Consider the  excellencies  of  this  divine  name  of Jesus,  or  Saviour. As Saviour,  He  has  freed  us  from  our most powerful  enemy. To overcome  that  proud  foe,  He has  displayed  His  wisdom,  by  appearing  in  the  form  of  a servant,  and  by  concealing  under  that  form  the  nature of God. As our  Redeemer,  He  has  suffered,  to  release  us from  bondage. This Saviour  has  manifested  His  sanctity in freeing  others  from  sin,  by  assuming  the  punishment Himself. He has  proved  His  divinity;  for  no  one  but God could  satisfy  for  the  debt  due  in  consequence  of sin. His dominion,  then,  extends  over  all  redeemed mankind. Do not  attempt,  therefore,  to  withdraw  your