Death he should die.-This is a parenthesis of the Evangelist, who always explains what is in danger of being misunderstood.

*Abideth for ever.—Their understanding of the Law, as has often been pointed out, centered upon a temporal leader, who should found a great kingdom, etc.

"Son of man.-They did not know His full meaning, but had an inkling of it.

"A little while. This we consider a mistranslation, but it is adopted by many.

"Whilst you have the light.-The figure is transferred now to the following of Himself in the way pointed out.

Darkness.-Especially the darkness of error or mistaken and misguided zeal.

"Believe in the light.-Let them take care of the little light they have, until it becomes a steady faith in Him and His Messianic work.

10 From them.-We conclude that this hiding was from all except His disciples.

40. Excæcavit oculos eorum, et induravit cor eorum ut non videant oculis, et non intelligant corde, et convertantur, et sanem

eos.

41. Hæc dixit Isaias quandò vidit gloriam ejus, et locutus est de eo.

40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and 'I should heal them:

41. These things said Isaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.

"I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and elevated: and his train filled the temple. Upon it stood the Seraphim: the one had six wings and the other had six wings: with two they covered his face, and with two they covered his feet, and with two they flew. And they cried one to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory." Isaias vi. 1-3.

How this prophetic vision was fulfilled in the person of Our Lord, history tells us. The mystical interpretation of the Seraphim and their wings would fill more pages than we have at our disposal. Suffice it to say that S. John, in his parenthesis here, gives us to understand that he saw the earth being filled with this glory.

In his Apocalypse iv. 8 he gives us an account of a similar vision which he had himself. There he gives four living creatures, who correspond to Isaias's two, and these are understood by those who composed our Liturgy to be the Four EVANGELISTS.

1Many miracles.-No writer interprets these words as to Our Lord's doing many more there and then; but as referring to the past.

2Believed not.-There were many causes opposing their belief: their animal propensities, the fear of the Scribes, and their disappointment at the meanness and poverty of Him who offered Himself as Messiah.

3Be fulfilled.-S. John gives the real one. Their obstinacy and hardness of heart which would not admit grace or conviction. Isaias foresaw this-liii. 1.

Hearing.... arm.-Hearing is a Hebraism for our words spoken to be heard. Arm is expressive of power, it also comes straight out of the body and is one with it-so is the Son of God and His Father ONE.

"Could not. Because they would not let God's grace work or let His light shine. They put it out.

Should not see.-In Isaias vi. 9. These words are spoken by the Lord to himself as foreshadowing the truth S. John enunciates.

"I should heal them.-Our Lord wanted to do so. He called himself physician and He only scandalized them when he healed publicans and

sinners.

8 Spoke of Him.-S. John wrote the Apocalypse before the Gospel, but he modestly abstains from quoting himself.

3rd. To try and convert a

3rd. Not attending to lights. self-sufficient Pharisee.

42. Verumtamen, et ex principibus multi crediderunt in eum: sed propter pharisæos non confitebantur, ut è Synagogâ non ejicerentur.

43. Dilexerunt enim gloriam hominum magis quàm gloriam DEI.

44. JESUS autem clamavit et dixit: "Qui credit in me non credit in me, sed in eum qui misit me:

45. "Et qui videt me videt eum qui misit me.

46. "Ego lux in mundum veni ut omnis qui credit me in tenebris non maneat.

42. However many of the 'chief men also believed in him: but because of the Pharisees. they did not confess it, that they might not be cast out of the synagogue.

43. For they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.

44. But Jesus cried out and said: He that believeth in me doth not believe in me, but in him that sent me.

45. And he that seeth me "seeth him that sent me.

46. I the light am come into the world, that whosoever believeth in me may not remain in darkness.

Worldliness has always been an enemy of the Gospel. It wants to follow fashions and customs which are not recognised by the strict followers of Our Lord. The poor went after Him in crowds, and His rich enemies went amongst them to find some cause of accusation against Him.

There was a third class, little noticed in the Gospel narratives, and these were His respectable followers. We have had specimens of brave ones amongst those-the Centurion, the Ruler of the Synagogue, Zaccheus and the Lazarus family. These were not ashamed to fall at His feet and worship as well as entertain Him in their houses and wait upon Him at table.

There was another class of followers, the shrinking timid respectables. They knew that to profess faith in Him would be simply ruin. They were sure to be flung out of the Sanhedrim and the Synagogue, to lose their business and be considered as outcasts and accursed. S. John tells us, there were many of those -we only know two.

1Chief men.-These were the respectable men in good positions and affluent. They were honest enough to see the truth of His mission.

2Because of the Pharisees.-They had to associate with Pharisees in civic duties, in the Temple, in the Council, and in all the relations of life and business. Excommunication would ruin them.

Glory of God. They did not see this clearly yet, and perhaps it was to them more especially Our Lord addressed the caution about the modicum lumen.

4Jesus cried out.-This is supposed to have been uttered by Our Lord before He hid himself. If this hiding alludes to His going to Mount Olivet on the first day, it may be admissible. If the hiding took place on Tuesday, as most harmonists think, then these words must have been spoken, either during the Temple lectures, or to the Twelve after the prophecy on the hill-side.

Seeth Him that sent me.-This He repeats often, and more likely for the benefit of His disciples than that of His promiscuous hearers.

"The light. Of this S. John is fond of speaking; and every flicker of such a light is fraught with some deep meaning to the Beloved Disciple.

The words of Isaias quoted by S. John have Adonai, a name given only to God Himself—not like Elohim, and words are used by Our Lord which show to the disciples that He and the Father

There is a transition now which enhances, indeed crowns the whole doctrine of S. John's Gospel regarding the mystery of the Incarnation.

It seems a hard thing to flesh and blood, as we say, to believe