Volume 13 · p. 502
Sermon XXI. On the Nativity of Blessed John the Baptist, Opening
SERMO XXI.
DE NATIVITATE BEATI JOANNIS BAPTISTÆ.
Puer crescebat, et confortabatur Spiritu: et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suæ ad Israel. Luc. I, 80.
Sunt quatuor principaliter hic notanda:
I. In quibus iste puer, id est, Beatus Joannes creverit? II. Contra quæ Spiritu sancto confortatus fuerit? III. Quare in desertis habitare voluerit? IV. Ad quid se filiis Israel ostenderit?
I.
De primo nota, quod iste venerabilis puer, videlicet Joannes Baptista crevit in duobus, scilicet in Dei dilectione, et in boni operis actione. In tantum autem crevit in his duobus, quod effectus est præclara lucerna ardens, et lucens: ardens per Dei dilectionem, et lucens per bonam operationem. Unde et ipse Dei Filius testatur de illo, Joan. V, 35: Joannes, inquit, erat lucerna ardens, et lucens. Nos etiam, charissimi, ad imitationem Beati Joannis crescere debemus in Dei dilectione, et in bona actione: ut videlicet de die in diem Deum ardentius diligamus, ipsique de tempore in tempus fortius serviamus. Sed, heu! hodie multi faciunt contrarium! Olim enim Deum plus dilexerunt, ipsique plus quam modo
SERMON XXI.
ON THE NATIVITY OF BLESSED JOHN THE BAPTIST.
The child was growing, and was being strengthened by the Spirit, and he was in the deserts until the day of his showing to Israel. Luke 1:80.
Four things are principally to be noted here:
I. In what things did this child, that is, Blessed John, grow? II. Against what things was he strengthened by the Holy Spirit? III. Why did he wish to dwell in the deserts? IV. For what purpose did he show himself to the children of Israel?
I.
On the first, note that this venerable child, namely John the Baptist, grew in two things, that is, in love of God and in the action of good work. But he grew so much in these two things that he was made a very bright lamp burning and shining: burning through love of God, and shining through good operation. Hence the Son of God himself testifies concerning him, John 5:35: John, he says, was a lamp burning and shining. We also, dearest ones, in imitation of Blessed John, ought to grow in love of God and in good action: namely so that from day to day we may love God more ardently and may serve him more strongly from time to time. But alas! today many do the contrary. For once they loved God more and served him more than now
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