examination of the heart 122 no other reason than this: to urge you to run toward the reward, and to persuade and encourage you to imitate the deeds and virtues of His saints. 3. “then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Lk 21:27). When those who despised Christ behold His majesty and glory, consider how great their shame will be! For they did not want to follow Him and they killed Him (putting Him to death on the Cross like the wickedest of criminals). On the contrary, what joy will come to those who have not only followed and acknowledged the despised Jesus, but also preached Him and suffered contempt and even death for love of Him. For Christ our Life will descend in His glorified body, clothed in the sun, carrying before Him the victorious sign of the Cross and surrounded by the angelic troops and the multitudes of saints. Therefore, that you may come to share in this glory, you should desire and embrace the highest contempt for the world and — I would say — contempt for yourself. For as the Apostle affirms, “the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18) [DRB]. SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Before Holy Communion [f.5r] 1. “Now when John heard” (Mt 11:2). Consider why the Precursor of Christ, John the Baptist, sent his disciples to Jesus to ask: Are you the true Messiah? Being held by Herod in the cruelest of prisons, John wanted the consolation of knowing — while still alive — that He who had been promised to the Fathers (cf. Lk 24:27) had already come. Indeed, lest perhaps John’s disciples might doubt after his own death who they should follow, John sent them that they might learn from the mouth of Christ His identity, His teachings, His conduct; that they might see His Person and then follow Him.
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