Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/98

 sakes; that  through  His  poverty  you  might  be  rich." (2  Cor.  viii.  9.)  Seek,  then,  for  these  divine  riches,  by imitating  the  poverty  of  the  Redeemer.

III. Consider the  incomparable  example  of  humility, which is  exhibited  in  this  mystery. He was  the  God of heaven  and  earth,  and  equal  to  His  Father;  yet  He humbled  Himself  to  the  despicable  condition  of  a  slave, "despised, and  the  most  abject  of  men,"  (Is.  liii.  3.)  He reduced  Himself  to  this  degradation,  to  teach  you  the real value  of  earthly  honor,  and  the  esteem  of  men,  of which  you  are  so  pitifully  fond. Be confounded  at  your conduct, by  comparing  it  with  the  example  which  the divine Infant  gave  in  His  nativity.

I. After  the  Divine  Son  had  humbled  Himself  so  low. His heavenly  Father  had  decreed  that  He  should  be  honored, and  that  His  nativity  should  be  made  known  to the  shepherds  by  the  message  of  angels;  because  "  he  that humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted. "  (Luke  xiv.  11.) Ponder deeply  the  words  of  the  Evangelist,  "  And  there were  in  the  same  country  shepherds  watching,  and  keeping the  night-watches  over  their  flock.  And  behold,  an angel  of  the  Lord  stood  by  them;  and  the  brightness  of God  shone  round  about  them;  and  they  feared  with  a great  fear." (Luke ii.  8.)

II. Christ did  not  wish  to  be  made  known  to  the  wise men around  Bethlehem,  because  they  were  proud;  nor to the  rich,  because  they  were  covetous;  nor  to  the  noble, because they  were  addicted  to  worldly  pleasures;  but to simple  shepherds,  that  is,  to  men  who  were  poor, humble, laborious,  vigilant,  and  attentive  to  their  duty.