Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/495

 life,  sanctifying  grace  and  all  that  was  connected  with  it. We are  born (spiritually)  dead. This is  the  sin  of  our  origin  from  Adam.

8. Necessity  of  faith  in  the  Divine  Redeemer.  Our  Lord  teaches the necessity  of  such  faith  by  these  words:  "That  whosoever  believeth in  Him  may  not  perish”;  — “He  that  believeth  in  Him  is  not  judged, but  he  that  doth  not  believe  is  already  judged.”  He  who  wilfully refuses  to  believe  in  the  Incarnate  Son  of  God  has  no  part  in  Redemption. Such  an  unbeliever  refuses  to  have  a Redeemer.  He  is  hopelessly lost,  because  he  refuses  to  be  saved!  “The  wrath  of  God  abideth  in him”  (John  3,  36).

Your body,  too,  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy Ghost. Have you  ever  defiled  it  by  unworthy  pursuits? Make a firm resolution  to  honour  your  body  as  the  temple  of  the  Holy Ghost, and  never  to  defile  it!

Many Christians  behave  irreverently  in  church,  in  the  Presence of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. Such people  deserve  indeed  to be  driven  out  of  church  with  scourges! Our Lord  does  not,  it is  true,  drive  them  out  now,  but  at  the  Day  of  Judgment  He will  deal  more  severely  with  them  than  He  dealt  with  the  buyers and sellers  in  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem.

Do you  thank  God  every  day  for  your  Baptism,  and  for  all  the graces which,  without  any  merit  of  your  own,  you  received  with  it?

Do you  love  God,  who  is  so  infinitely  good,  with  your  whole heart? How do  you  show  your  love? Do you  pray  willingly  and devoutly? Do something  special  to-day,  for  the  love  of  God.

OW it  came  to  pass  that  Herod cast  John  the  Baptist into prison; whereupon  the  Pharisees,  taking  courage,  began to persecute  the  Saviour. He therefore  left  Judaea and  returned