Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/396

 Messias, but  he  wished  his  disciples  to  be  confirmed  in their faith. Charity always  seeks  the  advantage  of others. Do you,  on  your  part,  rejoice  and  give  thanks to God,  for  His  having  long  ago  come  amongst  us,  and not having  held  the  world  any  longer  in  suspense. Be grateful for  the  benefits  resulting  from  his  incarnation.

III. To this  question  Christ  answers,  "  Go  and  relate to  John,  what  you  have  heard  and  seen:  The  blind  see, the  lame  walk,  the  lepers  are  cleansed,  the  deaf  hear,  the dead  rise  again,  the  poor  have  the  gospel  preached  to them." Christ does  not  in  express  terms  declare  that He is  the  Messias,  to  avoid  even  the  shadow  of  boasting, but proves  it  from  His  works. " Louder,"  says  St. Bernard, " is  the  sound  of  works,  than  of  words." It is  your duty to  prove  yourself  to  be  a  good  Christian,  and  a  follower of  Jesus  Christ  in  your  state  of  life,  whatever  it may  be,  not  by  words,  but  by  actions. Professions are easily made,  but  they  are  of  no  avail  unless  they  be supported  by  corresponding  deeds. " Let  her  works," says the  Wise  Man  of  the  virtuous  woman,  "  praise  her." (Prov. xxxi.  31.)  Besides,  since  Christ  has  been  so  liberal in  bestowing  corporal  favors,  as  sight  to  the  blind, hearing to  the  deaf,  and  the  like,  you  have  every  reason to hope  for  spiritual  benefits  from  him.

I. When  the  disciples  of  St.  John,  had  left  Christ,  He began  to  speak  in  commendation  of  their  master. He praised his  constancy  in  virtue;  He  said,  that  he  was  not like a  reed  tossed  and  bent  in  every  direction,  by  the