The angel, hence, is despatched from God. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a metropolis of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a male whose identify was Joseph, of the home of David and the virgin s title was Mary." one WHAT can be the Evangelist s intention in mention ing in this text so many good names ? I assume it is that he would not have us hear carelessly to 1 St. Luke i. 26, 27. 23 24 SERMONS OF ST. BERNARD what he has been at these pains to relate. He names the messenger despatched, the Lord by Whom, the Virgin to whom he is sent, the spouse of the Virgin, with the race of every their metropolis, far too, and country are pointed out by name. And why all this explana tion ? Can the Evangelist have stated nearly anything superfluous ? By no usually means. If not a leaf from a tree, nor a single sparrow falls to the floor without having a trigger and the knowledge of our heavenly Father, can I suppose that one particular superfluous word would drop from the lips of the holy Evangelist, specifically when he is giving the historical past of the Word Incar nate ? Certainly I cannot. Complete is each and every phrase of divinest mystery, redolent of sweetest heavenly fragrance to him, that is, who lookups it diligently and understands how to attract " honey from the rock and oil from the flinty stone." 1 For in that working day " the mountains dropped down with sweetness, and the hills flowed with milk " 2 and honey. When the heavens dropped down dew and the clouds rained the Just 1, then the joyous earth was opened and budded forth a Saviour, then the Lord gave goodness and our earth yielded forth her fruit. three On that mountain of mountains heaped up and excess fat " mercy and truth met each and every other, justice and peace kissed/ 4 In that day, far too, New porn star just one mountain was primarily blessed amongst mountains specifically, the Evangelist himself, when, with mellifluous eloquence, he created acknowledged to us the commencing of our extended-ideal salvation, like some delightful south wind bringing delectable non secular perfumes caught from the climbing Sun of justice

The angel Gabriel was despatched from God to a virgin espoused to Joseph/ one To a virgin espoused/ Why espoused ? For this cause it is reported " despatched from God," or appointed by God, lest we should really suppose that God experienced disclosed His design and style to anyone right before the Blessed Virgin. For He knew " the delight of Moab, that he is exceedingly proud/ 1 and that his delight would in no way request the remedy of repentance, nor, therefore, of pardon. After male s fall, even so, He established no other creature in his spot, hence intimating that guy ought to still be redeemed, and that he who had been supplanted by a different s malice may possibly even now by yet another s charity be redeemed. Be it so, dear Lord, I beseech Thee. Be delighted to supply me, for I am weak. Like Joseph of old, I was stolen away from my region, and here with out any fault was forged into a dungeon. Yet I am not wholly innocent, but innocent compared with him who seduced me. He deceived me with a lie : permit the fact come, that falsehood could be dis protected, and that I may well know the truth, and that the truth might make me free of charge. But to obtain the freedom I have to renounce the falsehood when dis included, and adhere to the known truth of the matter usually the temptation would not be human, nor the sin a human sin, but diabolical obstinacy. To persevere in evil is the act of the devil, and these who persevere in evil soon after his instance deservedly perish with him. Behold, you have heard Who He is that comes take into account now whence and to whom He comes. He comes from the heart of God the Father to the womb of a virgin mom He comes from the 1 Isa. xvi. 6. Advent 9 greatest heaven to this reduced earth, that we whose conversation is now on earth may well have Him for our most fascinating companion. For in which can it be perfectly with us devoid of Him, and wherever ill if He be pre sent ? " What have I in heaven, and aside from Thee what do I desire upon earth

He states, " on My account My Father has ruined His creatures : the initial of the angels aspired to My throne of sove reignty, and had followers who thought in him and instantaneously My Father s zeal was heavily revenged on him, hanging him and all his adherents with an incurable plague, with a dire chastisement. Man, way too, attempted to steal from Me the awareness which belongs to Me alone, and neither doth My Father clearly show him mercy, nor doth His eye spare him. He experienced produced two noble orders sharing His motive, able of collaborating in His beatitude, angels and men but behold, on My account He hath ruined a multitude of His angels and the complete race of gentlemen. Therefore, that they may perhaps know that I really like My Father, He shall acquire back again as a result of Me what in a certain way He appears to be to have lost as a result of Me. It is on my account this storm has arisen get me and forged me into the sea. 1 All are envious of Me behold I come, and will show Myself to them in these kinds of a guise as that whosoever shall want could become like to Me in any way I shall do they may imitate, so that their envy shall be designed superior and worthwhile to them." The angels, we know, sinned by malice, not by ignorance and frailty wherefore, as they were being unwilling to repent, they should of neces sity perish, for the really like of the Father and the 1 Jonas i