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 the eyes  of  the  world. The lowliness  and  poverty  of  Jesus,  therefore, offended them. They wanted  their  Redeemer  to  bring  them  great worldly advantages;  they  did  not  care  for  truth,  grace  and  salvation. Secondly, they  despised  Jesus,  because  they  had  known  Him  from  His childhood; for,  as  a rule,  men  do  not  respect  those  with  whom  they are very  familiar. Thirdly, a feeling  of  envy  probably  arose  in  them: “Is this  man,  who  is  poorer  than  any  of  us,  to  be  greater  than  we are!”  The  same  causes,  antipathy  to  the  supernatural,  pride  &amp;c. &amp;c., are in  the  present  time  at  the  root  of  much  unbelief.

The Sanctification  of  the  Sabbath  by  frequenting  divine  services  and hearing the  word  of  God. Jesus was  in  the  habit,  from  His  youth  up, of going  to  the  synagogue  every  Sabbath.

Labour honourable. Jesus  has  sanctified  and  raised  labour  and  all handicraft to  a position  of  dignity,  because,  until  He  began  His  public life, He  followed  the  trade  of  a carpenter.

The Sufferings  of  Jesus. It  wounded  our  Lord's  Sacred  Heart  to be  ignored  and  rejected  by  His  own  townsfolk. The Samaritans  believed, but the  Nazarenes  would  not  believe,  and  even  maltreated  Him. Jesus left Nazareth  and  wandered  about  without  a home,  among  the  very people whom  He  had  come  down  from  heaven  to  save.

Anger, a capital sin.  It  was  anger  which  made  the  Nazarenes attempt to  kill  Jesus.

Holy Scripture. Jesus,  by  His  reading  and  subsequent  discourse, testified that  the  prophecies  of  Isaias  were  inspired  by  God. Also, by citing  the  cases  of  Elias  and  Eliseus,  He  attested  that  these  holy  men were indeed  sent  by  God,  and  that  they  really  worked  the  miracles which are  related  of  them  in  Holy  Scripture.

You have  been  accustomed  from  your  childhood to  the  Presence  of  Jesus  in  the  most  holy  Sacrament  of the  Altar,  and  to  the  holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass. Take care  that you do  not  think  lightly  of  them! “If this  most  holy  Sacrament were only  in  one  place,  and  consecrated  by  only  one  priest  in the  world,  how  great  a desire  would  men  have  to  go  to  that place and  to  such  a priest  of  God,  that  they  might  see  the  divine mysteries  celebrated”  (Imit.  of  Christ  4,  1). Should your reverence and  devotion  be  less,  because  Jesus  of  His  infinite  love is present  on  so  many  altars,  and  is  daily  offered  up? Would not this be  a shameful  want  of  gratitude?