Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/541



Jesus is  the  Messias. The  miracles  of  Jesus,  so  completely  coinciding as  they  do  with  the  prophecies  of  Isaias,  are  conclusive  evidence that Jesus  was  the  promised  Redeemer.

Candour and  fortitude  of  St. John.  He  exercised  his  office  of preacher  of  penance  not  only  to  the  multitude,  but  to  the  great  and powerful as  well.

To admonish  sinners  is  a spiritual  work  of  mercy.

Do you  try,  as  St.  John  the  Baptist  did,  to prevent  sin  as  far  as  you  are  able? If your  brothers  or  comrades desire to  do  anything  wrong,  you  too  should  say:  “It  is  not lawful — it is  a sin.”

N those  days  a Pharisee  named  Simon  invited  Jesus  to  a banquet (Fig. 74). Jesus went  into  the  house  and  sat  down  to  table. Now there  was  in  the  city  a woman called  Mary  Magdalen,  who, having been  a great  sinner,  had  recently  been  converted  by  the preaching of  Jesus. When she  heard  that  our  Lord  was  in  the house of  Simon,  she  resolved  to  honour  her  Divine  Benefactor.

She brought  an  alabaster-box  of  precious  ointment,  entered the house,  passed  through  the  dining-room  unmindful  of  the  guests, fell down  before  our  Lord  without  speaking  a word,  and,  breaking the vase,  she  poured  the  ointment  on  His  feet. Then, filled  with repentance, she  began  to  kiss  His  feet,  and  to  wash  them  with her tears,  and  to  wipe  them  with  the  hair  of  her  head. And Jesus was pleased.