Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/471

 We  lose  Jesus  through  our  own  fault  when  we  separate  ourselves  from Him by  mortal  sin. This is  the  greatest  of  all  misfortunes,  for  he who  has  lost  Jesus,  has  lost  all,  and  can  never  be  happy  without  Him. He to  whom  this  misfortune  has  happened  must  seek  Jesus  with  sorrow and tears  of  penance,  and  he  will  find  Him  again  in  the  Temple  (His Church),  if  he  will  reconcile  himself  to  God  by  a good  and  contrite confession.

Do you  like  going  to  the  house  of  God? Have you  never,  of  your  own  fault,  neglected  the  services  of God? And how  do  you  behave  in  church  when  you  are  there, and how  do  you  listen  to  the  sermon?

As a Christian  child  you  ought  to  follow  the  example  of Jesus  Christ. But how  can  you  be  a follower  of  Him,  if  you  are not obedient  to  your  parents  and  superiors? Obedience is  for you the  first  and  most  necessary  virtue; and  if  you  will  not  obey those who  stand  to  you  in  the  place  of  God,  you  are  not  worthy of the  name  of  Christian. How has  it  been  with  you  hitherto  in this  respect? Have you  always  obeyed  your  parents  and  superiors both exactly  and  promptly? If on  any  future  occasion  you  are told to  do  something  which  is  distasteful  to  you,  say  to  yourself: “Jesus, I will  do  this  for  love  of  Thee.”

HE time  was  approaching  when  Jesus  would  show  Himself publicly as  the  Redeemer  of  the  world. Wherefore the  word of the  Lord came  to  John,  the  son  of  Zachary,  in  the  desert. Obedient to  the  divine  will,  John  repaired  to  the  country  about the Jordan. He was  clothed  in  camel’s  hair,  with  a leathern girdle round  his  loins,  and  his  food  was  wild  honey and  locusts.