Thought for the Day – 14 January – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations for Christmastide
“The Holy Infancy”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
“The Magi Return Home”
+1. Before the Magi left Jerusalem for Bethlehem, Herod had enjoined them that they should return and tell him where the newborn King of the Jews was to be found , declaring that he, too, desired to come and adore Him.
Hypocrite and treacherous liar he was, his real object was to destroy his supposed rival. He made no scruple of planning the murder of One Who might possibly supplant him.
Those who love worldly honour are always unscrupulous. It has the power of blinding the eyes and deadening the conscience and making men esteem evil as good and good as evil!
+2. The Magi seem to have been deceived by Herod’s fair, words and to have promised to return with the information he desired.
Good men are always trustful and lacking in suspicion of evil. We all judge others by ourselves. If you want to know your own characte, ask yourself whether your judgement of others is a charitable or uncharitable one.
+3. When the Magi had completed their visit to Bethlehem, they prepared to return to Herod.
But an Angel warned them to avoid the City where he dwelt and to go back to their own Country by some other way.
We need never fear lest our charitable judgements should do harm. God will provide against this. It is our harsh and severe judgements which are productive of so much evil to ourselves and others .
AnaStpaul 