Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/193

 Sacrament:  “Thou  hast  given  them  bread  from  heaven,  containing  in itself  all  sweetness.”

The water  flowing  from  the  rock  is  (according  to  1 Cor.  10,  24) a type of  the  stream  of  divine  grace,  which,  proceeding  from  our  Saviour who was  pierced  for  us,  flows  down  on  the  languishing  souls  of  men (compare what  our  Lord  says  about  the  living  water,  New  Test  XVI). “If any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  to  Me  and  drink”,  said  our  Divine Saviour (John  7,  37).

Moses praying  On  the  mountain  with  outstretched  arms  is  a type of our  Lord,  who  was  nailed  with  outstretched  arms  to  the  Cross  on Calvary,  and  prayed  for  the  salvation  of  the  world.

The victory  of  God's  chosen  people  over  the  heathen  Amalekites  is a type  of  the  victory  of  the  Church  militant  over  her  enemies  — a victory won by  the  spiritual  weapons  of  virtue  and  prayer.

He who  wishes  to  reach  the  promised  land of heaven  must  suffer  and  deny  himself. He must  renounce  his bad desires,  and  patiently  bear  trials  for  love  of  God. He must fight against  the  enemies  of  his  soul,  and  all  temptations  to  evil. We must  fight,  endure  and  suffer  in  this  world,  and  we  must  do so  from  our  youth  upwards. Ask yourself,  what  you  have  done hitherto. Deny yourself  voluntarily  something  in  the  way  of  food and drink. Do not  complain,  if  anything  hurts  you,  but  rather suffer it  in  silence,  and  offer  your  pain  to  your  crucified  Saviour. Suppress at  once  all  movements  of  anger,  pride,  envy,  or  sinful curiosity.

We must  not  only  fight:  we  must  also  pray,  to  be  enabled to overcome  the  enemy  of  our  souls. Say to-day  a prayer  in honour  of  the  Five  Wounds  of  our  Lord,  or  say  a decade  of  the sorrowful mysteries  of  the  rosary,  to  obtain  the  grace  to  overcome yourself.

N the  third  month after  their  departure  from  Egypt,  the  Israelites came  to  Mount  Sinai,  where  they  rested  and  pitched their tents. Moses ascended  the  mountain,  and  God  appeared  to