Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/117

 sessions, united  with  sincere  expressions  of  gratitude,  as well  for  their  own  particular  favor  as  for  the  general benefits resulting  from  His  incarnation,  and  the  vocation of the  Gentiles. To these  they  added  the  most  ardent affections of  love  and  desire,  that  all  the  world  might know and  serve  their  new-born  King. Observe what admirable effects  a  lively  faith  produces  in  the  soul;  and learn with  what  affections  you  ought  to  approach  the same Lord  in  the  Eucharist.

I. "And  opening  their  treasures,  they  offered  Him gifts,  gold,  frankincense,  and  myrrh. "  With  the  above-mentioned  affections  of  faith,  reverence,  and  love,  they offer gifts  to  their  supreme  Lord,  the  most  valuable  that they had  in  their  treasures,  in  order  that  you  may  learn to employ  the  best  things,  and  not  the  worst,  in  the  divine service. Consider the  gifts  of  the  Wise  Men  in  particular: and  present  yours  conjointly  with  theirs. They offer gold,  as  a  tribute  to  their  King  and  their  Lord. Offer Him,  on  your  part,  the  gold  of  charity;  for  as  gold is the  most  precious  of  metals,  so  is  charity  the  queen  of virtues. Present to  Him  all  your  earthly  possessions, with an  affection  and  love  of  poverty,  considering  them as nothing  in  comparison  with  His  divine  service;  and be ready  to  leave  all,  rather  than  offend  Him  even  venially.

II. They offer  frankincense  to  Him,  as  an  acknowledgment of  His  divinity. Offer you,  also,  the  frankincense of fervent  and  frequent  prayer. Say with  David,  "Let my  prayer  be  directed  as  incense  in  Thy  sight." (Ps.