Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/129

 vealing these  sublime  mysteries  to  a  few  only,  and  in concealing  them  from  the  rest  of  mankind. They adored' the divine  dispensation,  when  He  revealed  them  to  the poor and  humble  of  this  world,  and  concealed  them  from the great  and  the  proud. " And  after  they  had  performed all  things,  according  to  the  law  of  the  Lord,  they returned  into  Galilee.,,  (Luke  ii.  39.)  It  is  your  duty to  follow  their  example;  to  perform  "all  things  according to  the  law;"  and  to  fulfil  the  commands  of  God  in what  may  seem  to  you  of  trivial  importance.  Accompany this  holy  family  home,  and  observe  their  religious -demeanor  on  the  way.  They  returned  to  Bethlehem, where  they  lived  in  holy  obscurity,  and  where  they  endeavored to  do  their  duty  in  respect  to  their  new-born Saviour.

"Heal me,  O  Lord,  and  I  shall  be  healed;  save  me  and  I  shall  be saved." (Jer. xvii.  14.)

I. Consider,  1st. In the  gospel  of  this  day  Christ  healed the leper,  and  afterwards  the  servant  of  the  centurion. (Matt, viii.)  He  is  the  universal  physician  of  our  souls; for the  Prophet  tells  us  of  Him,  that  "  He  was  sent  to heal  the  contrite  of  heart." (Is. lxi.  1.)  And  whilst  He was  upon  earth,  says  His  Evangelist,  "virtue  went  out from  Him  and  healed  all." (Luke vi.  19.)

II. To how  many  diseases  our  fallen  nature  is  subject. "Our fever,"  writes  St.  Ambrose,  "  is  covetousness,  our fever  is  sensuality,  our  fever  is  rage  and  anger,  etc." Our diseases are  as  numerous  as  our  vices. Reflect on  the imminent danger  in  which  these  spiritual  diseases  con-