"Was not I present in spirit when the man turned back and gave thee' the money and garments? And now thou art rich, but the leprosy of Naaman shall stick to thee, and to thy seed forever. And," concludes the text, " the old servant went out from him a leper as white as snow." If the faithful cannot purchase exemption from the laws of God and the Church, neither can the Church sell that exemption without incurring moral leprosy.
Brethren, the Redeemer bent Himself low down to raise us from the depths of our iniquities, but He raised us only to the surface, leaving to ourselves the task of striking out and swimming to the heavenly shore. And should we turn our eyes backward or downward to view with complaisance our skill or the height of our ascent, be sure a dizziness will seize us and we shall lose our way. Our gaze should cling as longingly as the dying Stephen's to the coveted shore, and to every buoy, even the smallest, set to guide us landward. There are three degrees of docility, submission to superiors, to equals and to inferiors, and if the Lord of lords practised them all, even the third and highest, is it unreasonable that we should be asked to exercise at least the first and the lowest? Be not wise therefore in your own conceits, but go show yourselves dutifully to your priests and offer them the reverence and obedience due them as the ministers of God. When tempted to be critical of your Church and her rites and ceremonies, humbly bow your head and murmur: " Lord, I am not worthy." Thankfully accept and use her time-honored, as well
