Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/136



I. "  When  Herod  was  dead,  an  angel  of  the  Lord  appeared in  sleep  to  Joseph  in  Egypt,  saying,  Arise  and take  the  child  and  his  mother,  and  go  into  the  land  of Israel." (Matt. ii.  19.)  Joseph  was  afterwards  in  a doubt  where  to  fix  his  abode,  for  fear  of  Archelaus,  and was 'admonished to  go  into  Galilee. Remark how  short-lived is  the  prosperity  of  the  wicked,  and  how  quickly changed into  eternal  adversity. Reflect, too,  how  God takes peculiar  care  of  the  just,  removing  from  them  the afflictions which  were  sent  for  their  greater  good,  and directing them  in  all  their  ways. Therefore, "  come  ye to  Him  and  be  enlightened,  and  your  faces  shall  not  be confounded." (Ps. xxxiii.  6.)

II. " And  he  came  and  dwelt  in  a  city  called  Nazareth." Imagine with  what  joy  they  were  received  by  their  relations and  friends  at  their  return,  and  admire  their  singular humility  in  concealing  from  them  the  mysteries  relating to  the  birth  of  their  Son. They knew  that  God would reveal  them  at  the  proper  time. Christ, in  Holy Writ, is  called  a  "  Nazarite,"  which  signifies  a  flower; and He  Himself  prompted  the  author  of  the  Canticle  of Canticles  to  speak  in  His  person,  and  say,  "I  am  the flower  of  the  field  "  (Cant.  ii.  1.),  that  is,  not  born  of  that parent which  the  world  would  call  noble  and  great,  but of ordinary  extraction;  "  and  the  lily  of  the  valleys,"  and not of  the  mountains. By these  expressions  He  insinuates that  He  is  spiritually  born,  not  in  proud  and  exalted, but in  humble  souls. Descend then  into  the  valley  of humility,  and  in  this  humble  state  present  your  God  with