PEARLS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE FOR OUR LITTLE ONES

New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1914, Page 59

PEARLS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE FOR OUR LITTLE ONES

By the Rev. M. J. Watson, S.J./ Author of * Within the Soul,' and ' The Story of Burke and Wills.'

[ Unless you he converted and become as little children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven .’— St. Matt, xviii. .3.

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;', . ' A HAPPY NEW YEAR. ' We are the children of saints and look for that life which God will give to those that, never change their faith from Him.'—Tobias ii. 18. I do not know, dearest, if it has ever struck you that you have two birth-days. One is that day on which you began your life in this world; the other is New Year's Day, when you, as well as everyone on earth, enter upon another twelvemonth to which all people give a number, that becomes its name—thus this year which we have just commenced is called 1915. As you advance in age,, it is a wise practice to examine the year that has'gone by, that you may avoid in the future the fault that, to your regret, you yielded to in the past. An excellent point is to be earnest and perservering in any good work you take up, and learn to overcome yourself, especially in attending Mass and going to Holy Communion. -Listen to this little story which is quite, true. A priest found a young soldier waiting in the church late one evening. 'You want to go to confession V ' No, Father, I was at confession last night. I intended to receive Communion; but early this morning my Colonel sent me to a town twenty miles away, and I have only just returned. Can you give me Holy Communion V ' But it is not the custom,' said the priest, ' to give Communion at such a late hour, and you are not fasting.' ' Father, I have kept the fast strictly since 9 o'clock last night. To-morrow my regiment starts early for the seat of war, and this is the only opportunity I have to receive the Blessed Sacrament.' The priest", filled with admiration, very gladly gave the young man the Food of Angels which he so earnestly desired. - ■' We are children of saints, and it is right that we should be earnest in striving, year by . year, to win that blessed life which God will give to all that never change their faith from Him. Nay, we are more than children of saints, we are children of God. We obtained that honor, through Christ's merits, in baptism. By a true adoption we then became God's children, and we were, in St. Peter's words, made partakers of the Divine nature and we are now, St. Paul tells us, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. With what liberality does God our Father treat us, and with what love has He watched over us all our days! He has given to us a soul with its powers of memory, understanding, and will, and a body with the free use of its members and senses. Every joy that we have tasted, every delight of eye, of brain, of heart, has come from His hand.

- ' When we look abroad upon creation, we see the palace which He has prepared to be our dwelling-place. He has stretched above our heads a dome ‘of light and blue,’ in which are suspended as lamps, the sun, the moon, and the stars. For our use and pleasure He has delivered to us the earth, with its rivers, lakes, and oceans, its plains and mountains, its fruit-bearing trees, and all living things, over which, through His .will, we have dominion. In addition, by supernatural grace He makes the soul beautiful as an angel; He appoints the Heavenly Spirits to guard us in all our ways, and He even abides within us .as in a temple specially dedicated to Himself. Finally, He sent His Only Son to die for us, and' how hath He not, with Him, given us all good gifts! _

Our Father treats us thus because we arc His sons and daughters. If we are bound as the .children of saints to -lead a- holy life, still more are we obliged to do so because we are God's children. It must, then! be our first object, day by day, to think noble thoughts; and to do noble deeds. As a,high-born maiden would scorn anything that is low and degrading, so a child of God—and that dignity lifts the lowliest on earth above mere nobility of birth or titleshould account it shameful to do aught that is, in God's sight, vile and detestable. Before God man's greatness consists in humility and divine love, and to grow in these ' virtues is to become dearer to heaven and more like to that Son of the Father, who is the first-born among many brethren. If thus you, dearest, are careful not to fall away from the high thoughts that become the children of God, the example of your courage and perseverance in living a life of faith and of earnest striving after a lofty aim, will, animate many a desponding soul, will lead erring feet into the right way, and will enable you to be, under God, even without knowing it yourself, a source of life and strength to hearts long tried by doubt and temptation. God uses His true children to nourish thus the spiritual life of their brethren, and to work with Him in saving the world. What mere earthly greatness can be compared with such a destiny ? ■ ' Prayer to be often said. O my Jesus, make me grow, like Thee, day by day in wisdom and in grace. Hymn. In Christ's dear Name with courage bear % . Whatever ills betide; ? For worldly good is oft a snare, * And fills the heart with pride. P What seems a loss will often prove * To be our truest gain;' ' • And pains endured with patient love \ A jewelled crown obtain.