sacrificed so much? Was this the Christ of God? What weight such thoughts would have with you and me were we behind John's prison bars! But not so John. His faith was founded not on signs and wonders but on the words of God, and naught but God's own word in contradiction could ever shake his trust. He sent his two disciples, not to question Christ for his own instruction but for theirs — and his very sending of them, his sublime confidence in the ability of Christ to give them an answer, satisfactory and essentially true, proves the depth and height of John the Baptist's faith. Hence it was that Christ commended him, his austere self-denial and firm constancy amid seeming contradictions. No reed was he, shaken by every wind of circumstance. Little cared he for worldly ease and preferment, yet was he greater than the greatest — more than a prophet — because more deeply imbued with the spirit of God — an angel, because he came from God and lightly touched the earth and flew to heaven again. As in his dungeon he bends his neck to the executioner's axe, John is a sublime figure of faith and hope and love — of faith, for he believed when doubt would have triumphed in most men — of hope, for he trusted when it seemed hope had fled — of charity, for he gave the highest proof of love by giving his life for his friend.
Brethren, great as was the Baptist, still Christ asserts that the least in the kingdom of God — the Catholic Church — can become greater still. John was of the Old Law, but we are of the New, with all its superior advantages and graces. Now, to best
