The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-04-22
CHRIST THE DIVINE EXEMPLAE
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! Continued from Page ID
surrender to our brutal instincts Is chcc,ir, Of
! Christanitys progress, so surely to be- pif;ful
sympathetic, kindly is to bring the spirit Of Chris
among men, and to strengthen his presence i'm .,rI
! To turn away from inviting opportmr- f.a
evil-doing to relinquish the chance of sinful pleas
ure to resist a seductive temptation though ,y;tl
pain at the heart and a grOan on the Iip~. lni
to do all this because unwilling To- hurt
neighbor race, enemy any fellow-creaturc. born o.
mborn-this Is to become for the moment and In
some little measure, like unto Christ's ideal of
man.
Yes; the love of mankind is preparation.
necessary preparation for Christianity Ir +, %
sentiment which measures by its development. M
growth of the soul; which. in its increasing purity
reveals every advance from the selfish passion of
youth to the matchess sacrifice of a mother, love-
which registered the progress Of the Israees from
the beginning to the end of sacred history; which
has marked all the stages of mans evolution from
SIN to sanctity, from savagerv to civilization II is
sentiment which must, at least in some degree
always be present in order that a soul may obtain
the first weak grasp of Christianity: and
must grow strong and deep before any real and
hearty assimilation of Christs spirit can take
place.
What would the prevalence of such love among
US not imply! At its coming dishonesty and cor
ruption would disappear, and unjust trials ana uq-
fair legislation well; the systematic and legal
oppression of the poor would cease,--so too, the
CRIME OF the betrayer who purchases q moments
pleasure at the cost of anothers soul aud the sell
ishness that degrades marriage into a mere means
of sensual satisfaction. At its coming would flower
forth the spirit which calls it wicked 20 save ones
self at the cost of another which Laws upon the
best and noblesf a supreme duty the obligation
to throw away life for the sake of the nnanest and
weakest of his brethren; the spirit so essentially
Christian, which has kept pace with the progress
OF Christianity, grown with its growth ind
strengthened with its strength, and made the final
measure of nations advance from barbarism it's
loyalty to the law which dictates that women and
children must be looked after first in the fire or the
shlpwreck and placed in safety before the great
ones, most valuable to humanity, dare even think
of saving themselves
We may not say that the study of the spirit
OF Christ will at render us able to pursue all
these ideals faithfully and successfully nor may
we say that any one of US alone can do much to-
ward making them prevail; but this is true that
only III proportion as men aim at and earnestly
strive after these ideals they hope to be fash
toned into the image of God and recognized by
Christ as the children of his inspiration.
But all this will interfere with our comfort
says some one. Why of course it will interfere
undoubtedly and most decidedly And therefore
Christ gave us not only an example of service,
but lesson III remuneration. He taught us that
the Christian ideal be attempted only by those
who are willing to deny themselves he made US
that Christianity can easily be taken
out of souls which have not been made firm by
pam, and tempered like fine steel in the furnace of
enumeration 10 do all Christ bids US do. we
must be children indeed but we must have moro
han the strength of children; for to be Christian
great life work. no mere child's play. 1t Is a
rown we must win by effort, pearl for which
We must pay great price Much physical comfort
must be surrendered by him who is striving for
deal which is divine. Remuneration is foremost
n the scheme of salvation proposed BY Christ and
hown III his life for our imitation. We should
lever forget the disappointment and failure of the
naterlallstic Jews, brought face to face with
1ord, but having nothing in their selfish souls
herewith to lay hold of the treasure he proffered
hem The same opportunity, the same danger, the
anne issue, Is always ours. We can have Mammou
we wlsh-that is many of us can, and for time
t least-but we cannot have God and Mafnmon.
he bread of angels will not be savory to him who
as been feeding the husks of swine
Every great institution, every nation has Its
7mbol England, its Lion and Unicorn Russia. its
reat Bear; France, its Fair Lilies; the United
tates, its Soaring Bird of Freedom The sym
81 of Christianity has ever been the Cross. Oh!
Is no longer sign of shame to be hidden and
'neealed In the life of every day it meets us
gain and again; it jingles at the wrist of fashion,
bangles from the golden watch-chain of wealth;
hangs upon the bosom of lght-hearted beauty;
stands clear-cut against the sky as it crowns
e splre under which people meet to kneeI and
ray. But unless it be branded into the mind and
AIRED into the individual heart then has the soul
1t yet begun to be Christian
We must remember this as we seek to prepare
lrselves for growth in the knowledge of Christ,
I'd increase in the love of him; as we pray for
e grace to assimilate his spirit and to initiate
5 conduct The true symbol of Christianity is
Q Gross. And the figure that hangs upon it,
ked and suffering for the sins of Others. is the
N of Man, Gods Ideal of a man.