OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY
MEDITATIONS
St.
Alphonsus Liguori
MEDITATION IV
January 9
The
Dwelling of Jesus in Egypt
Jesus chose to
dwell in Egypt during his infancy, that he might lead a more hard and abject
life. According to St. Anselm and other writers, the holy family lived in
Heliopolis. Let us with St. Bonaventure contemplate the life that Jesus led
during the seven years that he remained in Egypt,
as it was revealed to St. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi.
The house they live in is very poor,
because St. Joseph has but little wherewith to pay rent; their bed is poor,
their food poor; their life, in short, is one of strict poverty, for they
barely gain their livelihood day by day by the work of their hands, and they
live in a country where the are unknown and despised, having there neither
relatives nor friends.
This holy family does indeed live in great
poverty; but oh, how well-ordered are the occupations of these three
sojourners! The holy Infant speaks not with his tongue; but in his heart he
speaks indeed and continually to his heavenly Father, applying all his
sufferings, and every moment of his life, for our salvation. Neither does Mary
speak; but at the sight of that dear Infant she meditates on the divine love,
and the favor that God has conferred upon her by choosing her for his Mother.
Joseph also works in silence; and at the sight of the divine Child his heart is
inflamed, while he thanks him for having chosen him for the companion and
guardian of his life.
In this house Mary weans Jesus: at first
she fed him from her breast, now she feeds him with her hands; she holds him on
her lap, takes from the porringer a little bread soaked in water, and then puts
it into the sacred mouth of her Son. In this house Mary made her Infant his first
little garment; and when the time was come, she took off his swaddling-clothes,
and began to put on this vestment. In this house the Child Jesus began to walk
and speak. Let us adore the first steps that the Incarnate Word began to take
in this house, and the first words of eternal life that he began to utter. Here
he began also to do the work of a little servant-boy, occupying himself in all
the little services that a child can render.
Ah, weaning! ah, little garment! ah, first
steps! ah, lisping words! ah, little services of the little Jesus, how do you
not wound and inflame the hearts of those who love Jesus and meditate on you!
Behold a God trembling and falling, a God lisping, a God become so weak that he
can occupy himself in nothing but in little house hold affairs, and unable even
to lift a bit of wood, if too heavy for the strength of a child! O holy faith,
enlighten us, and make us love this good Lord, who for the love of us has
submitted himself to so many miseries! It is said that on the entrance of Jesus
into Egypt all the idols of the country fell down; oh, let us pray to God that
he will make us love Jesus from our hearts, since in that soul where the love
of Jesus enters, all the idols of earthly affections are overthrown.
Prayers and Affections
O Holy Infant, who
livest in this country of barbarians poor, unknown, and despised, I acknowledge
Thee for my God and Saviour, and I thank Thee for all the humiliations and
sufferings Thou didst endure in Egypt for the love of me. By Thy manner of life
there Thou dost teach me to live as a pilgrim on this earth, giving me to
understand that this is not my country; but that Paradise, which Thou hast
purchased for me by Thy death is my home. Ah, my Jesus, I have been ungrateful
to Thee because I have thought but little of what Thou hast done and suffered
for me. When I think that Thou, the Son of God, didst lead a life of such
tribulation upon this earth, so poor and neglected, how is it possible that I
should go about seeking the amusements and good things of the earth? Take me, I
pray Thee, my dear Redeemer, for Thy companion; admit me to live always united
with Thee upon this earth, in order that united with Thee in heaven, I may love
Thee there, and be Thy companion throughout eternity. Give me light, increase
my faith. What goods, what pleasures, what dignities, what honors! All is
vanity and folly. The only real riches, the only real good, is to possess Thee,
who art the infinite Good. Blessed he who loves Thee! I love Thee, O my Jesus,
and I seek none other but Thee. I desire Thee, and Thou desirest me. If I had a
thousand kingdoms, I would renounce them all to please Thee, my God and my All.
If in times past I have sought after the vanities and pleasures of this world,
I now detest them, and am sorry that I have done so. My beloved Saviour, from
this day forward Thou shalt be my only delight, my only love, my only treasure.
Most holy Mary, pray to Jesus for me; beseech him to make me rich in his love
alone, and I desire nothing else.
*****
Image: The Rest on the
Flight into Egypt by Giuseppe Cesari
The Rest on the
Flight into Egypt depicts the moment when a palm tree bends down at the request
of the Christ Child so that Joseph can pick the dates that Mary has asked for.
This miraculous event adds a touch of familiarity and intimacy to the
well-known story of the Holy Family's flight.
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