“The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in sleep, saying: ‘Arise, take the Child and His Mother and fly into Egypt and be there until I shall tell thee, for it will come to pass that Herod will seek the Child to destroy Him’ ” (Matt. 2, 13).
First Prelude: Imagine the Holy Family, in obedience to the angel’s bidding, preparing for the journey.
Second Prelude: O my Jesus, give me the grace of a living faith in Thy loving Providence, and humble resignation to all Its dispensations.
First Point
THE COMMAND TO FLY INTO EGYPT
How humiliating for the Son of God must have been the command given to St. Joseph, by the Most High, to fly to Egypt with Jesus and Mary. He should fly from a godless king, retire into a strange country! The Babe of Bethlehem, a fugitive from the anger of a miserable creature! Is such a command compatible with the infinite Majesty of the Lord of heaven and earth? Without doubt, no, when judging from a human standpoint. But let us learn to correct our judgment by viewing happenings from the vantage-ground of God’s sacred designs. This command, no matter how degrading it may appear to us, redounds to the glory of God, to Whom nothing can afford more honor than the profound abasement of His Son, as we learn from the prophecies. Oh, the wisdom of Divine Providence! Not only does this command tend to the greater glory of God, but it tends, likewise, to the greater good of mankind. Pondering the wonderful example of their Lord and Saviour as He takes refuge in flight, must they not draw encouragement and comfort from this sublime mystery, for hours of bitter trial, when it would seem that God had forsaken them? What a lesson Jesus would teach souls consecrated to Him in particular! By means of the lowly occupations of their holy state which probably humiliate them in the eyes of the world, or even cause them to be looked upon with contempt, they honor the Divine Majesty, and draw down abundant graces for their own salvation and that of souls entrusted to them. How meritorious in God’s sight is close union with the sentiments of our dear Lord in hours of such trial!
In virtue of this union, we accept humiliations at the hand of our heavenly Father with Christ’s sentiments and esteem them as precious treasures. Christ, our Exemplar, even chose them for His portion, as St. Paul says: “Let us look on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith, Who having joy set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame” (Hebr. 12, 2). Let us incessantly look on Jesus that His example may encourage us in the trials, which we encounter in this land of exile, on our way to our true home,
Do I consider humiliations, which wound self-love, as especial graces, by means of which Almighty God would have me sanctify myself?
Second Point
JESUS TEACHES US COMPLETE ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN THE TIME OF TRIALS
God permits persecutions to break in upon His well-beloved Son, Who, according to the prophecy of Simeon, is a sign for contradiction, but at the same time, He watches over the life of the Divine Child, sends His angel, and frustrates the plans of the godless king. Likewise, God deals with the just, even in our day. He has not bound Himself to exempt them from suffering and persecutions, but He watches over them, guides them through His lawful representatives and disposes all things so as best to further their interests. With the most perfect resignation, the Divine Child submits to the Will of His heavenly Father, announced by the angel and executed promptly by His holy foster-father. He suffers Himself to be guided and carried without resistance, having no other aim than to be truly submissive and resigned to Divine Providence, and the solicitude of those entrusted with the charge of Him. How does such implicit trust put my disquietude to shame, perhaps, even my complaints and murmurs, when this same loving Providence enjoins or permits anything not according to my taste! Am I penetrated with the fact that God wills to test my faith, and that He has connected great graces with such trials? Am I not fully convinced that I will fare best in the place assigned to me by obedience, because God would have me there?
The ways the Lord would lead us are sacred: let us, therefore, fear nothing so much as to deviate from them. What calm and heavenly peace dwell in a soul who, having abandoned herself to Divine Providence with perfect surrender, submits cheerfully to the guidance of His representatives! God Himself will lead her safely through the trials of this life, and even in the midst of the most depressing tribulations, will flood her soul with that profound peace which is the fruit of a long-tried fidelity and self-denial.
Affections: The present life is a time of trial, yet, Thou, O Lord, dost not forsake Thine own, and rewardest with ineffable joy, every difficulty borne for love of Thee. Thou, Thyself, my Jesus, hast experienced this in that state of submission and abasement which Thou hast chosen for love of me. In the face of such humility and trust, could I still complain of the tribulations that I may have to suffer? Far be such ingratitude from me, O Jesus, —Thy loving Providence watches over me and directs all things unto good. How could I lose courage, even in the greatest difficulties, since I wish naught but to fulfill Thy holy and most amiable Will, made known to me through the directions of my superiors and my Holy Rule. By blind obedience, steadfast faith, invincible patience and perfect confidence, I will strive to be worthy of the guidance of Thy loving paternal Providence.
Resolution: I will often excite acts of loving confidence in Divine Providence.
Spiritual Bouquet: “To them that love God all things tend to good.”
Prayer: Jesus, my Lord, my King . . .
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