http://www.dailycatholic.org/dec25hay.htm#dawn


Gospel: St. Luke 2: 15-20  

15 And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.  
Commentary on Verse 15 The word which always was, let us see how it is made for us; that which we could not see, when it was the word, let us see because it is made flesh. (V. Bede) – See how particularly the Scripture weighs the meaning of every word. The shepherds hastened to see the word, for when the flesh of the Lord is seen, the word is seen, which is the Son. (Saint Ambrose)
16 And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger.  

17 And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.  
Commentary on Verse 17 They saw this with the eyes of their body, but with their internal eyes they discovered other wonders, viz. that He, Who lay there in such great poverty, was their Messias, their great King, and the Son of God. (Barradius) 18 And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds.  
19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.  
Commentary on Verse 19 Mary kept all these things, and compared what was accomplished in her, concerning the Lord, with what had been written of Him by the prophets. (V. Bede) – She considered in her heart the arguments of faith. (Saint Ambrose) 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

http://www.newadvent.org/summa/2001.htm#article7


Article 7. Whether all men have the same last end?

Objection 1. It would seem that all men have not the same last end. For before all else the unchangeable good seems to be the last end of man. But some turn away from the unchangeable good, by sinning. Therefore all men have not the same last end.

Objection 2. Further, man's entire life is ruled according to his last end. If, therefore, all men had the same last end, they would not have various pursuits in life. Which is evidently false.

Objection 3. Further, the end is the term of action. But actions are of individuals. Now although men agree in their specific nature, yet they differ in things pertaining to individuals. Therefore all men have not the same last end.

On the contrary, Augustine says (De Trin. xiii, 3) that all men agree in desiring the last end, which is happiness.

I answer that, We can speak of the last end in two ways: first, considering only the aspect of last end; secondly, considering the thing in which the aspect of last end is realized. So, then, as to the aspect of last end, all agree in desiring the last end: since all desire the fulfilment of their perfection, and it is precisely this fulfilment in which the last end consists, as stated above (Article 5). But as to the thing in which this aspect is realized, all men are not agreed as to their last end: since some desire riches as their consummate good; some, pleasure; others, something else. Thus to every taste the sweet is pleasant but to some, the sweetness of wine is most pleasant, to others, the sweetness of honey, or of something similar. Yet that sweet is absolutely the best of all pleasant things, in which he who has the best taste takes most pleasure. In like manner that good is most complete which the man with well disposed affections desires for his last end.

Reply to Objection 1. Those who sin turn from that in which their last end really consists: but they do not turn away from the intention of the last end, which intention they mistakenly seek in other things.

Reply to Objection 2. Various pursuits in life are found among men by reason of the various things in which men seek to find their last end.

Reply to Objection 3. Although actions are of individuals, yet their first principle of action is nature, which tends to one thing, as stated above (Article 5).