Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/99

 Inordinate self-love. Lot did  not  behave  well  to  Abram. Firstly, he ought  never  to  have  accepted  Abram’s  generous  offer,  and  ought rather to  have  given  the  preference  to  his  uncle. His love  of  himself was inordinate,  therefore  he  became  selfish. Lot believed  he  had chosen the  best  portion,  and  yet  his  very  choice  soon  brought  misfortune upon  him. Secondly, he  ought  not  to  have  gone  so  far  away from his  loving  uncle  and  protector. Thirdly, he  ought  not  to  have gone to  live  in  Sodom,  full  as  it  was  of  impious  and  vicious  men. There was  great  danger  there  both  to  himself  and  his  family,  who might be  led  away  by  the  bad  example  around  them. We ought  not to throw  ourselves  into  the  company  of  the  wicked,  and  we  ought to avoid  all  occasions  of  sin. We ought  to  care  more  for  our  souls  and their eternal  interests,  than  for  our  bodies  and  their  temporal  interests. Lot, therefore,  did  wrong  in  going  to  Sodom,  and  putting  his  soul  into danger, for  the  sake  of  mere  temporal  advantages. And God  punished him for  this  by  letting  the  strange  kings  rob  him  and  take  him  prisoner.

Melchisedech, the  fourth  type  of  Jesus  Christ. Melchisedech’s  name signifies the  king  of  justice,  and  he  was  king  of  Salem,  which  name means peace: Jesus  Christ  is  in  a far  higher  sense  King  of  justice, and the  Prince  of  peace  who  bought  for  us  everlasting  peace. Melchisedech was not  only  a king,  but  also  a priest:  Jesus  Christ  is  our sovereign king  and  priest. Melchisedech offered  bread  and  wine  to God  as  an  unbloody  sacrifice:  Jesus  Christ  offered  Himself  to  His Eternal Father  at  the  Last  Supper,  under  the  form  of  bread  and  wine, and continues  to  do  so  in  the  holy  mass. Melchisedech, after  the sacrifice, blessed  Abram  and  his  servants:  Jesus  Christ,  by  the  hand  of His  priest,  blesses  the  faithful  at  the  end  of  mass. This will  make  you understand the  meaning  of  the  words  which  God  spoke  to  the  Divine Redeemer by  the  mouth  of  the  prophet  David:  “Thou  art  a priest  for ever after  the  order  of  Melchisedech”  (Ps.  109,  4 and  Hebr.  7,  1 — 28).

You have  now  learnt  four  types  of  our  Lord,  namely,  Adam,  Abel, Noe, and  Melchisedech. These types  show  that  our  Divine  Redeemer is, firstly,  our  Head;  secondly,  the  Just  One  who  suffered  and  was slain; thirdly,  our  Saviour  from  the  destruction  of  sin  and  hell;  and fourthly, an  eternal  King  and  Priest  who,  like  Melchisedech,  offers  an unbloody  sacrifice.

Do you  love  peace  as  Abram  did ? What is  the principal reason  why  you  quarrel  with  other  children? Try to  be more  unselfish. “Behold, how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren to dwell  together  in  unity”  (Ps.  132,  1). If you  have  hitherto  been quarrelsome, check  that  evil  habit  as  soon  as  possible.

Abram gave  tithes  of  his  spoils  to  Melchisedech,  because  he was  a priest. Reverence the  priesthood. Priests are  the  messengers of God.