Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/331

 cusing one's  self. Would to  God  that  we  all  practiced this virtue  as  well  as  the  Baptist  did!

III. The Jews  sent  their  message  to  the  precursor, instead of  sending  it  to  Christ,  by  whom  they  might have been  much  better  informed. So we  often  seek comfort from  creatures  rather  than  from  the  Creator. Observe, moreover,  the  blindness  of  these  Jews,  who  although they  heard  that  Christ  was  among  them,  neglected, notwithstanding,  to  inquire  for  Him. For your part, use  all  diligence  in  discovering  the  will  of  God  in your  regard;  and  when  you  have  found  it  be  faithful  in putting  it  into  execution.

I. The  first  act  of  Christ's  public  life  was  to  present Himself to  be  baptized  by  His  precursor,  to  teach  us  that those who  are  employed  in  the  work  of  God  should carry with  them  a  pure  and  uncorrupted  heart. He therefore takes  leave  of  His  divine  Mother,  who,  although she grieved  at  the  absence  of  such  a  Son,  rejoiced  that the redemption  of  Israel  was  at  hand. He takes  a  long journey to  the  Baptist. The Lord  goes  to  the  servant to be  baptized  by  him  as  a  common  sinner,  among publicans and  soldiers  and  the  lowest  order  of  the  vulgar. Admire the  humility  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  convince yourself that  humility  is  the  best  preparation  for  great works. "That which  shall  be  saved  of  the  house  of Judah  and  which  is  left,  shall  take  root  downward,  and shall  bear  fruit  upward." (Is. xxxvii.  31.)

II. John by  divine  revelation  knew  our  Lord  at  His approach, and  modestly  refused  to  baptize  Him. "I