9781644135945

The Christmas Cycle
too, should do. Our country, to be sure, is paradise, and since we now know Jesus, we are
forbidden to return thither along the same way by which we left it. For we departed from
our own country by pride, disobedience, the love of visible things, by tasting the forbidden
food; but we must return thither by the way of tears, obedience, contempt of visible things,
and by curbing the desires of the flesh.
Let us, then, return to our own country by another way; and since we left the joys of
paradise for the sake of pleasure, we are bidden to regain them by pain. And therefore,
dearly beloved, we must ever be fearful, ever on the watch, as we set before the eyes of our
heart, on the one side, our sinful deeds, on the other, the severity of the Last Judgment. Let
us consider how severe a judge is coming, who even now threatens us unseen; who strikes
terror into sinners, but nevertheless still forbears and delays to come quickly that He may
find less to condemn.
Let us expiate our sins with tears, and in the words of the Psalmist, let us come before His
presence with thanksgiving. Let no appearance of pleasure deceive us; let no vain joy seduce us.
For the Judge is at hand who said: “Woe to you, that now laugh; for you shall mourn and weep”
(Lk 6:25). Hence did Solomon say, “Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning
taketh hold of the end of joy.” And again: “Laughter I counted error, and to mirth I said: Why
art thou vainly deceived?” And yet again: “The heart of the wise is where there is mourning,
and the heart of fools where there is mirth” (Prv 14:13; Eccles 2:2; 7:5).
Pensemus. Let us consider carefully, says the great St. Gregory. Epiphany reminds us vividly of
the Lord, who will return in His majesty to judge the living and the dead.
He who once has learned to know Christ, becomes a new man. He sets out on “another
way.” He begins to separate himself from the joys and vanities of the present life and to devote
himself to the things that are eternal. He escapes from Herod and the Jews and fixes his gaze
on heaven that he may live a holy and supernatural life. He came to God a sinner, but like the
wise men of the Gospel, he returns by “another way.”
The knowledge and insight which led the Magi to the crib of Christ found little appreciation
among their contemporaries. When they returned to their own country, great demands
were made on their fidelity. In the midst of heathen surroundings, among skeptical relatives
and acquaintances, they must hold fast to the Lord. They are met by ridicule, contradiction,
and criticism. They are looked upon as weak-minded old men who were led astray by a star.
But they remain faithful to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and they become holy. That is the way of
God’s grace. Virtue is tried in the fire.
Daily we visit the Lord in the Mass. We open our treasures and offer Him gold, incense,
and myrrh. In Holy Communion we receive Him and He receives us. If we are wise, we also
will return by another way and abandon the reckless, earthbound way which we have been
following. “We have seen the Lord.” We should now live for Him, and for Him alone, in spite
of all difficulties.
Prayer
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that what we celebrate with solemn office, we may attain
by the understanding of a purified mind. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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