Meditation for Christmas Eve

CHRISTMAS EVE.

THE HEART OF THE INFANT JESUS COMING TO SAVE US.

"In the evening you shall know that the Lord hath brought you forth out of the land of Egypt: and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord." (Ex. xvi. 16.)

Tomorrow the iniquity of the earth shall be done away, and the Saviour of the world shall rule over us." Versicle at Mass and Office.

1st Prelude. - Represent to yourself the arrival of Mary and Joseph at the stable, after they have vainly sought room in the inn.

2nd Prelude. - Pray that you may never drive your sweet Infant Jesus from your heart.

1st Point. - Already the Church has commenced her Christmas office. Now she implores her dear Lord to come in His Divinity, crying out, "Thou that sittest upon the cherubim, appear;" and now she implores the advent of His adorable Humanity, exclaiming, "He is as a bridegroom coming out of His bride-chamber." Yes; Mary is the mystic bride-chamber, and the one true bride; and He comes forth from her to run His course. Alas! that the end of that course should be blood and death! Alas! that the children of the bride-chamber should conspire to slay the Bridegroom, in all the beauty of His love and manhood! sweet Jesus, how many and how mystical are the treasures of Thy Church's words and office: "Today ye shall know that the Lord will come, and to-morrow ye shall see His glory"! sweet Jesus, how happy shall we be if we truly know that Thou hast come! If we know it with a saving knowledge in the day of life, we shall, indeed, see Thy glory in the day of eternity.

2nd Point. - Let us take care lest we murmur at sweet Jesus, when He brings us out of the land of Egypt. The road through the wilderness is not a pleasant one, and there are many things in the Egypt we have left which seem attractive. We cannot expect, as pilgrims to Canaan, to have every comfort and convenience on the road. When Moses uttered these words to the children of Israel, it was to tell them of the manna, the heavenly bread, which on the next day was sent to them. And Jesus comes now, also, to let us see His glory. Tomorrow He will give us the living bread. Tomorrow He will feed us with His flesh and blood, of which the manna rained from heaven was but a feeble type. He knows how much our spiritual life will need this sustenance. Oh, let us never loathe this holy Bread, as the children of Israel loathed the manna, and asked for other food than that which God had given them!

3rd Point - Tomorrow sweet Jesus will come. Oh, how blessedly near is His advent! Today we are decking our houses for His divine visit; let us not forget to deck our hearts. Let us sweep out every imperfection, every imperfect disposition, every wandering thought, with the besom of penance, and adorn ourselves with the fair bright flowers of contrition and love. Tomorrow our Infant King will come. Are we prepared to receive Him? Have we all the love ready for Him we should like to offer Him ? If we have not, let us ask our mother Mary to give us a share of hers. Bethlehem would never have seen Jesus, had Mary not brought Him there. Her love was the fullest atonement any creature could make for the world's coldness. Oh! if we obtain but one little spark of that love, we shall be rich; and if we ask, Mary will not refuse us.

Aspiration. - Sweet Infant Jesus, come - come quickly.

Form your resolution. Examen.