MARY, OUR MOTHER

LIFE AT NAZARETH

3. How Jesus Grew.
a) In His Body.
This was practically the only growth open to Him. That tender and delicate body of the Child Jesus every day appeared more robust and beautiful, more fitted for His impending apostolic labors, for His preaching, for His passion. Therefore, even His physical and natural growth tended towards the plan of His redemption, towards the fulfillment of the Will of His Father, towards the salvation of souls. Towards this same end too, must we direct our health, our strength, the whole of our life, even considered from a physical and corporal stand point.

b) He Grew in Wisdom.
This was two-fold: one, His human wisdom by which He appeared to know, every day more and better, all that was necessary for life, for His work and for the purpose of helping His parents. Moreover, He knew every day better what men are, what is in the human heart; and this knowledge made Him suffer at seeing their inconstancy, their selfishness, their incomprehension of real love. He would see the hearts of all mankind and He would find, alas!, a similar substratum also in your own heart. The other was the divine wisdom which every day revealed itself more clearly as for instance when in the Temple it caused the doctors of the Law to admire. Our Lady derived much fruit from these divine lessons. And you, do you too listen to the inspirations of God? Do you profit by them? As He grew in wisdom day by day, He would do works more and more pleasing to His Father, more and more profitable for us. How great would be His uprightness and purity of intention! What love did He not bring to His actions! Imitate this growing sanctity of Jesus which goes on increasing ever more, until the Eucharist and the Cross, until the end of life.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]