Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/467

 Evil  desires.  But  did  Herod  actually  and  grievously  sin  against the Child  Jesus? For after  all  he  did  not  really  kill  Him! No, but he had  the  will  to  do  so,  and  in  this  way  sinned  against  Him.

The Holy  Innocents  gave  their  lives  for  Jesus,  because  Herod  put them to  death,  thinking  to  reach  Jesus  through  them. They were,  so to  speak,  cleansed  from  original  sin  by  the  Baptism  of  blood,  and taken by  Jesus  to  heaven,  seeing  that  they  lost  their  lives  for  His sake. The Church  venerates  them  as  martyrs  and  commemorates  them on Dec. 28th.

Have you  never  murmured  against  the  decrees of Divine  Providence  when  evil  has  befallen  you? You ought  to give  yourself  over  to  God  in  all  things,  and  say:  “Thy  will be done!”

Think what  Jesus  suffered  for  you  during  His  flight  into Egypt. It was  still  winter;  the  weather  was  cold,  wet  and  stormy; and often  He  had  no  shelter  over  His  head  at  night. Bear all sufferings patiently  for  love  of  Jesus;  and,  above  all  things,  learn to bear  and  forbear.

OW Mary  and  Joseph  went  every  year to  Jerusalem  to celebrate  the  Pasch. When Jesus  was  twelve  years  old, He accompanied  His  parents  to  the  holy  city.

The festival  days  being  over,  Mary  and  Joseph  set  out  for their distant  home;  but  the  Child  Jesus  remained  in  Jerusalem, and His  parents  knew  it  not. They thought,  at  first,  that  He was  in  the  company  of  some  of  their  relatives,  and  so  they  jour-