Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/237

 with a  triumph. When, ere  His  hour  had  yet  come, He at  His  Mother's  bidding  changed  the  water  into wine at  the  marriage-feast  of  Cana,  He  manifested His glory,  says  the  Gospel,  and  His  disciples  believed in Him. Again, at  the  close  of  His  public  mission, when for  the  last  time  He  approached  Jerusalem,  the populace acclaimed  Him  in  the  words:  "  Hosanna  to the  Son  of  David;  blessed  is  He  that  cometh  in  the name  of  the  Lord." Lastly, at  His  Resurrection  His final victory  over  death  and  sin  was  so  unmistakably proclaimed that  the  world  has  not yet  ceased  to  echo Alleluia! nor the  doubting  Thomases  to  confess  Him as their  Lord  and  their  God. Now self-abasement preceded each  triumph. In His  youth  He  went  down to Nazareth  and  was  subject  to  Mary  and  Joseph; in His  manhood  He  meekly  became  all  things  to  all; in His  Passion  He  utterly  effaced  Himself. St. Paul, with an  eye  to  the  close  connection  and  dependence of these  three,  voluntary  humiliation,  spiritual  exaltation, and  the  spread  of  faith,  thus  admirably  sums  up the  Lord's  life  and  its  lesson:  "  He  humbled  Himself even  unto  the  death  of  the  cross;  wherefore  also God  exalted  Him,  that  every  tongue  should  confess the  Lord  Jesus."

He humbled  Himself  even  unto  the  death  of  the cross.

Brethren, try  as  we  may,  we  shall  never  succeed  in arriving  at  a  just  appreciation  of  the  enormity  of the  Saviour's  sufferings. " Thou  alone,"  He  says  to His  heavenly  Father,  "  Thou  alone  knowest  My ignominy,  My  confusion,  and  My  dignity." The