Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/517

 The sorrow  most  pleasing  to  God  is  that  of  those  who  renounce  the sinful joys  of  this  world,  and  grieve  over  their  own  sins  and  the  sins of others. Examples: Lot,  Elias,  Jeremias,  Judith,  John  the  Baptist.

Hunger after  justice. Men  desire  and  strive  after  many  things, but the  best  and  noblest  desire  is  for  virtue  and  grace. Everything else perishes;  only  virtue  endures. It is  not  enough  for  us  to  keep from mortal  sin; we  must  be  ever  striving  to  attain  to  a higher  degree of virtue. Examples; Simeon,  Anna,  Andrew  and  John,  the  Ethiopian Chamberlain.

Mercy is  practised  by  those  who,  from  a real  love  of  their  neighbours, are  anxious  to  help  them  in  their  spiritual  and  corporal  necessities. Examples: Abraham,  Moses,  Tobias,  the  good  Samaritan.

Cleanness of  heart  consists  in  banishing  from  our  hearts  all  impure thoughts and  desires. This cleanness  of  heart  is  also  called  holy  purity; it gives  both  joy  and  a taste  for  the  supernatural,  increases  faith  in  the soul, and  leads  to  the  blessed  vision  of  God. Examples: Joseph  in Egypt,  Judith,  Susanna.

Peacemakers are  those  who  hate  discord,  love  and  cherish  concord, and  try  to  restore  it,  when  it  has  been  disturbed. Example: Abraham.

Fortitude under  persecution.  Those  suffer  persecution  for  justice’ sake who  patiently  and  bravely  endure  scorn,  contempt,  neglect,  poverty and any  other  penalty  rather  than  give  up  either  faith  or  virtue. Examples: Abel,  Elias,  Jeremias,  Daniel  and  his  companions,  Eleazar, the Machabean  brothers,  John  the  Baptist,  Stephen,  and  all  martyrs.

The maxims  of  Christianity  and  the  maxims  of  the  world.  In  the Sermon on  the  Mount,  and  especially  in  the  Beatitudes,  our  Lord  proclaimed the  ruling  maxims  of  His  kingdom. It was  a discourse— new, utterly unheard-of,  and  coming  straight  from  heaven! Blessed are  the poor, the  mourners — the  persecuted! This was  in  direct  opposition  to the  Jews’  hopes  of  an  earthly  Messias,  and  showed  plainly  that  His kingdom was  not  to  be  of  this  world,  a kingdom  of  pomp  and  pleasure, but a kingdom  of  renouncement  and  self-denial. These maxims  of  our Lord’s kingdom  are  in  direct  contrast  to  the  maxims  of  the  un-Christian world. In the  world  reign  supreme  the  lust  of  the  eyes,  the  lust  of the  flesh,  and  the  pride  of  life. Its children  say,  ‘'Come,  let  us  enjoy the pleasures  and  good  things  of  this  earth. Do not  deny  your  senses. Give free  scope  to  your  passions  and  desires. Allow no  one  to  injure you. Take revenge. Have no  thought  for  the  needs  of  others. Let each man  look  after  himself. Eat, drink  and  be  merry,  and  enjoy  to your  fill  the  good  things  of  this  earth!”  The  law's  laid  down  by Christ  for  His  kingdom  are  very  different; and  he,  therefore,  who  lives in accordance  with  the  maxims  of  the  world,  cannot  be  a true  follower of Christ  nor  an  heir  of  heaven.