Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/125

 under the  form  of  bread  and  wine,  and  remains  there  with  us,  day and night,  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament. Every Catholic  church is, also,  a gate  of  heaven,  because  in  it  the  one  true  faith  is  taught, and the  Sacraments  of  Baptism,  Penance  and  the  Holy  Eucharist  are continually administered,  through  which  we  receive  the  remission  of  our sins, and  obtain  grace  and  life  everlasting. Those words  of  the  God-fearing Jacob  might  well  be  written  over  the  entrance  of  every  one  of our  churches. And, as  for  us,  we  ought  to  be  very  devout  and  recollected in  the  house  of  God.

Vows. Jacob  vowed  to  God  that,  if  he  returned  safe  to  Chanaan,  he would  build  an  altar  at  Bethel  and  offer  sacrifices  to  God; and  you  will see that,  later  on,  Jacob  faithfully  kept  his  vow. We learn  by  this  vow of Jacob  that,  even  in  quite  ancient  days,  God-fearing  men  used  to  make vows to  God,  and  that  He  was  well  pleased  with  such  holy  vows; for  He gave  Jacob  everything  for  which  he  prayed,  when  he  made  that  vow.

Diligence. Jacob  served  his  uncle  diligently  and  faithfully. All who love  and  fear  God  try  to  fulfil  faithfully  the  duties  of  their  state of life. Diligence is  a virtue,  if  we  are  working,  each  one  in  his  state, for the  glory  of  God. Sloth is  a sin,  and  one  of  the  seven  capital  sins.

The efficacy  of  penance.  Jacob’s  separation  from  his  parents,  and his long  and  hard  servitude  were  a penance  for  his  sin;  and  as  he practised  these  penances  willingly,  they  were  pleasing  to  God,  who forgave him  his  sin,  and  bestowed  many  blessings  on  him. Jacob left home quite  poor,  and  returned  a rich  man. His confidence  in  God  was richly rewarded. Nothing avails  without  the  blessing  of  God.

The ladder  of  Jacob's vision, a type  of  the  Redemption.  This  ladder stood on  the  earth,  and  its  top  reached  to  heaven,  even  to  the  throne of God;  and  thus  it  joined  earth  to  heaven. By sin,  this  earth  (or the  men  living  on  earth)  had  separated  itself  from  heaven  (from  God). Men had  become  the  enemies  of  God,  and  had  lost  all  means  of  attaining to heaven. It is  impossible  to  reach  heaven  by  any  human  strength or effort,  as  the  men  who  built  Babel  tried  to  do:  heaven  must  first come down  to  earth, and  draw  men  back  to  God. Therefore the Son of  God  came  down  from  heaven,  and,  by  so  doing,  put  an  end to the  enmity  between  heaven  and  earth. He made  satisfaction  for us, and  regained  for  us  the  grace  and  inheritance  of  heaven  which we had  lost. Jesus Christ  is  the  true  heavenly  ladder. By His  teaching He has  shown  us  the  way  to  heaven,  and  by  His  death  He  has  won  for  us grace,  in  the  strength  of  which  we  may  climb  up. Almighty God  showed Jacob, by  this  vision,  that  some  day  the  Redeemer  would  come  and restore the  union  between  heaven  and  earth,  and  would  open  to  all men the  way  to  heaven.

Oil is  the  type  of  grace.  Even  as  oil  illuminates,  softens,  strengthens, and heals,  so  does  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost  illuminate,  comfort, strengthen, and  heal  the  human  soul. Thus, under  the  Old  Law,  men