Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/141

 Jesus remained  in  Jerusalem."  Our  Saviour  here  gives  us an  example  of  renouncing  the  ties  of  flesh  and  blood  when the  service  and  honor  of  God  are  concerned.  Hence, upon  another  occasion,  He  observed:  "  He  who  loveth father or  mother  more  than  Me  is  not  worthy  of  Me." (Matt.  x.  37.)  All  earthly  friends  are  to  be  left  for  God, if  He  require  it;  and  every  advice  of  theirs  to  the  contrary ought  to  be  rejected,  as  proceeding  from  the  enemies of  God.  Hence  St.  Jerome  exclaims:  "Trample over your  father,  trample  over  your  mother,  and  with dry cheeks  fly  to  the  standard  of  the  cross."

I. Consider  how  Christ  was  employed  during  those three days. He was  wholly  occupied  in  divine  things,  in prayer  and  in  conversation  with  the  Doctors. Many spiritual writers  think  that  He  lived  during  those  days  without any  other  food  than  that  which  He  procured  by  begging. This He  did  from  His  extreme  love  of  poverty,  and to fulfil  the  expression  of  the  Prophet:  "  I  am  a  beggar, and  poor:  the  Lord  is  careful  for  Me." (Ps. xxxix.  18.)

II. Meditate on  the  behavior  of  Christ  among  the  doctors. The modesty  of  His  countenance,  words,  and actions won  their  admiration  to  so  great  a  degree,  that they admitted  the  divine  Youth  into  their  company. With all  humility  He  asked  them  questions,  and  listened to their  answers  as  a  scholar  and  not  a  teacher,  although He was  the  Wisdom  of  the  Divinity  Himself. His questions were  prudent,  and  the  answers  that  He  gave  to  their questions astonished  them. He zealously  sought  the glory of  His  Father  in  all  this,  and  He  did  not  act  from ostentation. How contrary  is  the  conduct  of  most  schol-