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 or sin  or  worldliness  remain,  and  follow  Christ  as faithfully,  as  unquestioningly,  as  perseveringly  as did  the  Magi. They had  for  guidance,  besides  the star, only  Balaam's  prophecy  and  dim  traditions  dating from  Israel's  captivity. But we,  led  by  Christ Himself, walk  in  the  noonday  light  of  Gospel truth. Amid trials  of  faith  we  must  not  be  discouraged, as  neither  were  the  Magi  when  the  star  disappeared. They were  not  scandalized  at  Christ's helplessness  and  poverty;  nor  should  we  be  ashamed of our  faith,  though  it  be  that  of  the  lowly  and  the poor. Above all,  if  we  have  had  the  misery  to temporarily  leave  our  home  in  Christ  by  sin  we  must return another  way,  namely,  by  penance,  and  be assured  that  turning  from  Herod  with  all  his  works and pomps  to  join  the  kneelers  round  the  crib,  you will find  there  spiritual  refreshment  and  heavenly peace of  soul.

Brethren, there  is  a  picture,  familiar  to  many  of you,  called  the  Rock  of  Ages,  which  aptly  sums  up  all I have  said. In the  midst  of  a  troubled  sea  rises  a cross  of  stone,  with  a  white-robed  figure  clinging  to it. The cross  is  the  hand  of  the  true  Jesus,  bidding time stand  still. The sea  is  typical  of  time  and  the world, and  the  cross — the  one  thing  rising  superior  to both,  the  one  solid  support  to  which  humanity  may cling — the cross  proclaims  that  "  this  is  the  victory which  overcometh  the  world — our  faith,"