Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/54

 the Old. It is  high  praise  for  John  that  she  alone  and her dancing  daughter  hated  him,  for  a  pious  tradition tells  us  that  even  the  very  soldier,  sent  to  fetch his head  to  the  banquet  hall,  with  tears  implored  forgiveness and  was,  by  the  Baptist,  blessed  and  comforted.

Brethren, there  is  one  more  incident,  that  wherein John sent  from  prison  two  of  his  disciples  to  the Christ, asking:  "Art  thou  He  that  is  to  come,  or wait  we  for  another? "  Here  is  mystic  meaning! John did  not  doubt,  but  sought  to  convince  his unhappy disciples  what  a  rich  legacy  was  theirs;  viz., the Son  of  God. Two messengers  he  sent,  as  though his mission's  final  act  was  to  turn  Jew  and  Gentile to the  Lord. He plays  at  being  criminal,  to  show that it  is  only  in  misfortune  the  sinful  soul  sends forth to  God  the  twofold  prayer:  "  Lord,  assist  me and  forgive." And for  answer,  Jesus  bade  them  tell the miracles  they  had  seen  and  heard. Brethren, the day will  come  for  you  and  me — our  dying  day — when, ere  another  dawn,  our  angel  guardian  will come to  ask:  "  Art  thou  he  that  is  this  day  to  come to  heaven,  or  wait  I  for  another?  "  Ah,  well  will  it  be for  our  souls  if  from  the  prison  of  our  bodies  they  can answer: "  Go  tell  your  Lord  and  mine  what  things you  have  heard  and  seen.  Tell  Him  I  have  been,  by my  charity,  eyes  to  the  blind,  ears  to  the  deaf,  and  a support  to  the  halt.  Tell  Him  that,  through  my means,  souls  have  been  cleansed  from  the  leprosy  of sin;  and  that,  through  me,  even  the  spiritually  dead have  risen  again.   Tell  Him  my  whole  life  has  been