Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/582

 came  down  from  heaven)  would  (as  the  Son  of  Man,  and  therefore  with His human  nature)  return  to  where  He  was  before  His  Incarnation.

These words  of  our  Blessed  Lord  ought  to  move all of  you  who  are  going  to  make  your  First  Communion,  to  prepare yourselves with  the  utmost  care  for  receiving  this  Divine  Food.

Each time  you  enter  a church  where  the  Blessed  Sacrament is preserved,  excite  in  your  hearts  an  act  of  firm  and  lively  faith in the  Real  Presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.

N the  next  Feast  of  the  Passover,  Jesus  did  not  go  up  to Jerusalem  because  of  the  snares  laid  for  Him  by  the  Jews, but retired  into  Galilee. Immediately He  was  followed  by  a great crowd of  people  bringing  the  sick,  the  blind,  the  lame,  the  deaf, the dumb,  whom  they  laid  at  His  feet,  and  He  cured  them  all.

Passing one  day  from  Galilee  to  the  confines  of  Tyre  and  Sidon, a woman of  Chanaan ran  after  Him,  crying  out: “Have  mercy on me,  O Lord,  Thou  Son  of  David! my daughter  is  grievously troubled by  a devil."  Jesus  made  no  answer .  But  she  continued to  beseech  Him  that  he  would  have  mercy  on  her  daughter.

Then the  apostles,  pitying  the  woman,  and  anxious  to  be rid  of  her  importunity,  besought  their  Divine  Master  to  grant  her petition. Jesus replied  that  He  was  sent  only  to  the  lost  sheep of the  house  of  Israel. Hearing this,  the  woman  renewed  still more earnestly  her  supplications,  falling  at  the  Saviour’s  feet,  and exclaiming: “Lord,  help  me."