Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/152

 ways intent  on  our  spiritual  profit,  and  careful  to  seize every occasion  of  exercising  virtue! Observe what  care worldly men  take  to  amass  wealth  and  increase  their fortunes, which,  however,  they  are  soon  to  leave;  and blush at  your  own  neglect  in  amassing  everlasting  treasures which  God  freely  offers  you.

III. This neglect  exposes  man  to  final  ruin;  for  it  was said of  the  servant  who  neglected  to  employ  his  talent in  the  service  and  to  the  advantage  of  his  master, "Take ye  away,  therefore,  the  talent  from  him,  and  the unprofitable  servant  cast  ye  out  into  exterior  darkness." (Matt. xxv.  28.)  Excite  yourself,  therefore,  to  persevere in the  way  of  virtue  with  cheerfulness. Examine upon what occasions  you  are  accustomed  to  lose  courage,  and resolve to  go  forward  with  renovated  spirit. Christ is your  commander,  and  your  reward  "  exceeding  great."

I. There  is  nothing  said  in  the  Gospel  regarding  the life of  Christ  from  His  twelfth  to  His  thirtieth  year,  but simply that  He  was  obedient  to  His  parents,  and  increased in wisdom  and  age  and  grace  before  God  and  men. This silence  is  most  instructive  to  us;  it  teaches  us  the necessity of  the  virtue  of  obedience  and  continual  advancement in  virtue. Esteem these  virtues,  then,  and make them  the  constant  study  of  your  life.

II. It seems  certain  that  Christ  spent  a  great  part  of this  time  in  high  contemplation  and  conversation  with His heavenly  Father;  for  He  who  could  afterward  say  to Martha  that  her  sister  Mary  had  chosen  the  better  part, because she  loved  the  exercise  of  contemplation,  must