Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/119

 seems to  be  the  product  of  virtuous  zeal  ought  not  to  be followed. For the  Apostle  admonishes  us  to  "believe not  every  spirit,  but  try  the  spirits  whether  they  be  of God"  (i  John  iv.  i);  and  St.  Paul  tells  us  that  even "Satan himself  transformeth  himself  into  an  angel  of light." (2 Cor.  xi.  14.)

II. The sages  immediately  obeyed  the  admonition,  and " went  back  another  way"  into  their  own  country. (Matt, i. 12.)  Such  ought  to  be  our  obedience  to  the  inspirations of God,  when  He  calls  us  to  a  more  perfect  knowledge of Himself,  or  to  pursue  a  life  of  greater  exactness  and perfection. " We  have  deviated  from  our  heavenly country,"  says  St.  Gregory,  "by  pleasures;  and  we should  return  to  it  by  the  way  of  sorrow  and  repentance." Reflect what  joy  the  visit  of  the  Magi  gave  to the  blessed  Virgin,  and  what  delight  she  felt  in  seeing her Son  adored  by  them,  and  the  prophecy  fulfilled — "The kings  of  Tharsis  and  the  Islands  shall  offer  presents; the  kings  of  the  Arabians  and  of  Saba  shall  bring gifts." (Ps. lxxi.  10.)  Recommend  yourself  earnestly  to her,  and  say,  with  St.  Bernard,  "  By  you,  O  Virgin Mother!  permit  us  to  have  access  to  your  Son."

III. The divine  Infant  did  not  suffer  the  Wise  Men  to go  away  without  being  rewarded  for  their  pains  and  devotion. He bestowed  upon  them  supernatural  gifts,  in return  for  theirs. For their  gold,  He  gave  them  the rich treasures  of  wisdom  and  charity;  for  their  frankincense, the  gifts  of  prayer  and  devotion;  for  their  myrrh, His divine  grace,  which  is  a  sovereign  antidote  against the corruptions  of  sinful  nature. You can  give  nothing to God  which  He  will  not  return  with  immense  profit to yourself. The more  you  give,  therefore,  the  more  you will receive. Be liberal,  then,  to  God,  in  order  that  He may  be  generous  to  you — remembering  the  sentence  of