Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/369

 further teaching. By it  God  wished  to  say  thus  to  the  Jews: “You  are now dispersed,  and,  as  it  were,  dead; but  I,  your  God,  will  not  forsake you, I will  gather  you  together  again,  and  take  you  back  to  your  own country.” This  promise  was  immediately  and  literally  fulfilled  by  the return of  the  Jews  from  captivity  (chapter  LXXX),  by  which  they  became once more  a nation;  but  it  was  more  perfectly  and  gloriously  fulfilled by the  New  Covenant,  by  which  God  poured  out  His  Holy  Spirit  on all  nations,  and  raised  up  a greater  and  more  perfect  Israel.

Longing for  home. The  Jews  loved  their  country,  their  Temple and their  worship,  so  that  even  though  they  experienced  no  want  in Babylon,  they  pined  to  return  to  their  own  home. The more  pious among them  longed  to  celebrate  once  more  the  feasts  of  the  Lord, to offer  sacrifice  and  sing  canticles  of  praise. We too  are  living  in banishment  “in  this  vale  of  tears”; for  heaven  is  our  one,  eternal  home. We ought  to  pine  for  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  do  all  we  can  to deserve  admittance  thereto.

Conscientiousness. Daniel and  his  three  companions  offer  us  a noble example of  conscientious  fidelity  in  the  observance  of  God’s  laws. The inducement to  partake  of  the  meats  and  wine  sent  from  the  king’s  table was very  great;  but  the  four  youths  practised  self-denial,  and  contented themselves with  the  poorest  and  most  simple  of  fares,  rather  than  expose themselves to  the  danger  of  sin. They acted  thus,  because  they  were possessed by  the  holy  fear  of  God,  and  dreaded  anything  that  might offend Him.

Fortitude and  temperance. Furthermore,  they  offer  us  a noble example of  fortitude. Their temptations  to  unbelief  and  sin  in  the luxurious court  of  the  pagan  king  were  numerous  and  powerful,  but Daniel and  his  companions  remained  firm  in  faith  and  in  the  observance of the  divine  law. They practised  the  greatest  abstemiousness,  and  did not let  themselves  be  led  away  by  the  example  of  the  other  youths  in the  palace  who  did  partake  of  the  king’s  dishes. Ought this  not  to  put those Christians  to  shame  who  have  not  the  courage  to  confess  their faith before  those  who  are  unbelievers  or  non-Catholics,  and  who  have not even  the  fortitude  or  self-denial  to  abstain  from  meat  on  Fridays? Does not  this  show  great  weakness,  cowardice,  and  want  of  character?

The fruits  of  temperance. The  abstemiousness  practised  by  the  four youths had  a good  effect  on  their  bodies  as  well  as  their  souls. These boys, who  were  content  with  simple  fare,  and  who  did  not  taste  wine, were more  healthy,  fresh  and  comely  than  those  who  ate  and  drank from the  king’s  table. Moderation in  eating  and  drinking  preserves health, while  the  contrary  course  spoils  it  and  leads  to  many  diseases. “By surfeiting  many  have  perished,  but  he  that  is  temperate  shall prolong life”  (Ecclus.  37,  34). A man should  eat  to  live,  and  not  live to eat. The minds  of  these  youths  were  also  strengthened  by  their abstemiousness. They learnt  with  ease,  and  made  great  progress  in