Ecclesiasticus  24: 23 – 31

23 As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.

24 I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.

Commentary on Verse 24: I, &c. Grabe restores this verse, and, instead of the next, has, "but I am given to all my children, being born myself for ever, to those who are specified by him.

25 In me is all grace of the way, and of the truth; in me is all hope of life and of virtue.

Commentary on Verse 25: Life. Christ declares himself to be, the way, the truth, and the life. [John xiv. 6.]

26 Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits.

27 For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb.

Commentary on Verse 27: Spirit. Greek, "remembrance." It has not the following verse.

28 My memory is unto everlasting generations.

29 They that eat me shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, shall yet thirst.

Commentary on Verse 29: Thirst. Without being ever disgusted, John iv. 13. (Calmet) --- Experience of carnal delights is quite the reverse. (St. Gregory, hom. xxxvi. Ev.) --- The more grace a person has, the more he desireth and receiveth from God. (Worthington)

30 He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin.

Commentary on Verse 30: Sin. Or lose their labour. They shall be directed in the paths of life. (Calmet)

31 They that explain me, shall have life everlasting.

Commentary on Verse 31: They. Greek, "all these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, the law which Moses gave unto us, an inheritance to the ѕуηαgσgυєs of Jacob." Grabe puts in a different character from the Complutensian, "Lose not strength in the Lord, but stick to him, that he may strengthen you. The Lord Almighty is the only God, and there is no other Saviour." Then follows, (ver. 35.) "who," &c. (Haydock) --- Everlasting. Provided his life correspond with his doctrine. No occupation can be more glorious. (Calmet) --- Let thy Scriptures be my chaste delights: let me not be deceived in them, nor deceive others by them. (St. Augustine, Confessions xi. 2.) (Calmet) (Daniel xii.) (Menochius)

Luke 2: 43 - 51

43 And after they had fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child, Jesus, remained in Jerusalem, and his parents knew it not.

44 And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.

Commentary on Verse 44: It may be asked how the blessed Virgin and St. Joseph could possibly have come so far without missing him; but we must take notice, that when the people went up to the temple from remote parts of Judea, the men went in one company, and the women in a separate company, whilst the children went in either company indifferently: so that St. Joseph imagined that he was with Mary, his mother, whilst she imagined he was with St. Joseph. (Nicholas of Lyra)

45 And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions.

47 And all, that heard him, were astonished at his wisdom, and his answers.

48 And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee, sorrowing.

49 And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about the things that are my Father's?

Commentary on Verse 49: I must be about the things that are my Father's? By these words he shewed, that not St. Joseph, but only God, was his father. (Witham)

50 And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them.
Commentary on Verse 50: They understood not, &c. That is, knew not when, or by what means, Christ designed to make himself known to the world. (Witham)

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth: and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.

Commentary on Verse 51: Was subject to them. Astonishing humility! which the Son of God was pleased to teach by his example, as also obedience to parents. (Witham) --- The evangelist relates nothing of our Saviour from the age of twelve till the age of thirty, except that he was subject to St. Joseph and the blessed Virgin. The divine Spirit shewing by this, that nothing is so great and amiable in Christians, as ready obedience to the directions of their superiors. (Barradius) --- All children are hereby taught what subjection and obedience is due from them to their parents.