Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/111

 to conquer  and  to  save  the  world. There is  a  sharp antithesis between  the  insidious  serpent  whispering to Eve,  and  the  angel  of  light  declaring  unto  Mary that, after  all,  humanity  was  to  be  not  merely  like to God,  knowing  good  and  evil,  but  should  be  God Himself. John the  Baptist  said  of  himself  and Christ: "My  name  must  decrease,  but  His  must increase." Hence, John  was  born  at  the  summer solstice when  Nature  begins  to  wither  and  the  days grow shorter,  but  Christ  came  at  the  winter  solstice when begin  to  return  the  light  and  the  life  of  the world. John's name  was  like  a  strain  of  music  dying away in  the  distance,  but  Jesus',  though  its  first  mention was  as  soft  and  low  as  an  angel's  whisper, swelled into  a  grand  crescendo  until  it  filled  the whole world. To Mary  first,  as  first  redeemed,  that name, that  tidings  of  great  joy  was  first  revealed,  and then to  all  the  people. Its spiritual  meaning,  Saviour, is kept  ever  to  the  fore,  even  in  the  Temple  where,  at the  circumcision,  it  was  first  officially  conferred,  and where, for  the  first  time,  the  Redeemer  shed  His blood. Since then  the  history  of  that  name  has  been the history  of  the  Saviour  and  of  Christianity. Who shall estimate  the  vital  factor  it  has  been  for  good and sometimes  alas! for evil  in  the  affairs  of  men! How many  a  soul,  amid  temptations,  doing  battle for its  life,  has  found  that  name  as  Solomon  calls  it: " a  tower  of  strength  "  ! How many  a  soul  already dead has  been  by  it  restored  to  life! What favors have been  through  it  obtained,  what  miracles  it  has wrought! How many  sins  crying  to  heaven  for