Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/154

 lowly employment,  and  meditate  in  silent  admiration  on this  divine  scene  of  humility. Is this  a  fit  employment for the  Lord  of  glory? Truly, "His  work  is  strange  to Him"! (Is. xxviii.  21.)  Consider  why  and  for  whom » all  this  is  done.

II. Christ employed  Himself  thus  out  of  pure  humility; for  He  who  had  assumed  all  the  miseries  of  human nature, and  had  submitted  to  the  general  sentence  of death  pronounced  on  all  mankind,  submitted  also  to  the necessity of  labor — "  In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  thou  shalt eat  bread." (Gen. iii.  19.)  Christ  had  this  object  also in view,  viz.,  to  teach  us  to  avoid  idleness,  as  the  source and origin  of  every  mischief. Imitate Him,  then,  and remember that  "  idleness  hath  taught  much  evil." (Ecclus. xxxiii.  29.)

III. What singular  advantages  the  Blessed  Virgin  derived from  this  long  and  familiar  conversation  with  her God! Imagine what  divine  entertainment  it  was  for  her to discourse  with  her  Son  on  God  and  heaven. Figure to yourself  the  amazement  of  the  Holy  Virgin  when  she beholds Him  employed  in  all  the  menial  services  of  domestic life. She might  well  exclaim,  "  Oh,  the  depth  of the  riches,  of  the  wisdom,  and  of  the  knowledge  of God!" (Rom. xi.  33.)  Reflect  on  each  particular,  and draw principles  for  your  own  conduct.