|
February 14th: The Journey Home
It was the custom in the caravans that used
to go up to Jerusalem for the Pasch, that men and
women should travel separately. Children would
travel with either company. Hence on the journey
home from Jerusalem St. Joseph thought that Jesus
was with His Holy Mother, and Mary thought that
He was with Joseph. Each of them was always
thinking of Him, and longed to have Him with
them, but in their unselfish love for each other,
each was willing to forego the joy of His company
for the other's sake. Learn from them to be unselfish,
even in spiritual things. When they halted for the night, each was astonished to find that He was not with the other. In sorrow and anxiety they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. But no, they found Him not. He was not in the returning company. O how bitter was Mary's sorrow! How keen the distress of her holy Spouse! Condole with them, and try to realize the intensity of their anguish. We sometimes lose Jesus, and in our case it is too often through our own fault. It is not through our unselfishness, as in the case of Joseph and Mary, but through our selfishness and self-will and unfaithfulness to grace. Yet how strangely indifferent we are to our loss. Perhaps we have even lost Him altogether through some serious sin. At all events we have alienated Him by deliberate venial sin. Yet we have little or none of the sorrow that Joseph and Mary felt when they lost Him through no fault of their own. Pray for a keener appreciation of the misery of being in any way separated from Jesus.
Music: The Shepherds' Farewell
from L' Enfance du Christ Op. 25 by Hector Berlioz
1. Thou must leave Thy lowly dwelling,
The humble crib, the stable bare. Babe, all mortal babes excelling, Content our earthly lot to share. Loving father, Loving mother, Shelter Thee with tender care! 2. Blessed Jesus, we implore Thee With humble love and holy fear. In the land that lies before Thee, Forget not us who linger here! May the shepherd's lowly calling, Ever to Thy heart be dear! 3. Blest are ye beyond all measure, Thou happy father, mother mild! Guard ye well your heav'nly treasure, The Prince of Peace, The Holy Child! God go with you, God protect you, Guide you safely through the wild! |