The Third Sunday in Advent The Gospel John 1. 19-28. Wednesday Meditation: A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634


John 1. 19-28 GOSPEL 
At that time the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to John, to ask him: Who art thou? And he confessed, and did not deny; and he confessed: I am not the Christ. And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the Prophet? And he answered: No. They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Isaias. And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize; if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the Prophet? John answered them, saying: I baptize with water: but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not. The same is He that shall come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Consideration for Wednesday

I am the voice of the cryer foretold by Esay, that resounds in your ears, this cry, direct, make straight the ways of our Lord, sayth Saint John to the Jews.

Properly men say they have a voice: but usually none say they are a voice; as St. John here sayeth.

His meaning is then, that he is all voice; that all he is, and hath to do, his apparel, his diet, his actions, his passions, as well as his zealous preaching, all are a voice to exhort men to prepare the ways for Christ, and to preach the coming of Christ unto our souls.

Whereby we are taught, that besides our open profession of being true Catholics in faith, and union of holy Church, by word of mouth, when Gods honor, and edification of the Catholic cause requireth us: all our other words, thought, and works, all our life, and conversation, ought to be voices signfying plainly to all men what religion we be of; that by our words, and works, done all with a sincere intention to honor Christ, and our faith, we may preach Catholic religion more efficaciously, then only by naked words.

All we do, eating ,drinking, recreating, buying, selling, suffering, whatsoever ir be, ought to be a voice crying, and proclaiming Christ, and his love unto others; that they seeing our good works, and hearing such sincere voices, may glorify God, and Catholic religion.

Saint John says he is a voice of one that crieth in the deserts; a voice perpetually and constantly crying, and preaching Christ.

Such must we be: crying to others by all our actions the glory of Christ, not now, and then, but constantly and perseverantly, making use of the grace of God, to increase it in ourselves, and our neighbors.

For to that end hath God given to every one of us his talents, according to our ablilities, to negotiate with them, and increase them, by growing in grace, and multiplying in merit: & never to leave negotiating out of slothfulness, as if we would have no more, or attain to no further perfection then we have: for then, even that which we have shall be taken from us.

He that hath, (sayth Christ our Saviour) shall have more: and he that hath not, even that which he hath, shall be taken away; that is to say; he that will not answer unto the good motions; & inspirations of the holy Ghost, sent him to increase his talent, and to multiply his merit more, and more.


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