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 sacrificed so  much? Was this  the  Christ  of  God? What weight  such  thoughts  would  have  with  you  and me were  we  behind  John's  prison  bars! But not  so John. His faith  was  founded  not  on  signs  and  wonders but  on  the  words  of  God,  and  naught  but  God's own  word  in  contradiction  could  ever  shake  his  trust. He sent  his  two  disciples,  not  to  question  Christ  for his own  instruction  but  for  theirs — and  his  very  sending of  them,  his  sublime  confidence  in  the  ability  of Christ  to  give  them  an  answer,  satisfactory  and essentially true,  proves  the  depth  and  height  of John  the  Baptist's  faith. Hence it  was  that  Christ commended him,  his  austere  self-denial  and  firm  constancy amid  seeming  contradictions. No reed  was he, shaken  by  every  wind  of  circumstance. Little cared he  for  worldly  ease  and  preferment,  yet  was he greater  than  the  greatest  —  more  than  a prophet — because  more  deeply  imbued  with  the spirit of  God — an  angel,  because  he  came  from  God and lightly  touched  the  earth  and  flew  to  heaven again. As in  his  dungeon  he  bends  his  neck  to  the executioner's axe,  John  is  a  sublime  figure  of  faith and hope  and  love — of  faith,  for  he  believed  when doubt would  have  triumphed  in  most  men — of  hope, for he  trusted  when  it  seemed  hope  had  fled — of charity,  for  he  gave  the  highest  proof  of  love  by  giving his  life  for  his  friend.

Brethren, great  as  was  the  Baptist,  still  Christ asserts that  the  least  in  the  kingdom  of  God — the Catholic Church — can  become  greater  still. John was of  the  Old  Law,  but  we  are  of  the  New,  with  all its superior  advantages  and  graces. Now, to  best