Though it is a dangerous deception to rest on outward privileges, in the profession and forms of piety, it is not less so to neglect the use and improvements of those privileges, of the Sacraments, of public worship, and of opportunities of instruction. When the people of Nazareth drove Jesus away, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things he had done at Jerusalem, on the festival day; for they also went to the festival day. They had left their homes and worldly callings, and journeyed some distance, with both trouble and cost, to worship God on some sacred occasion (it matters not what) of the assembling of devout Jews at Jerusalem, and they had a recompense in not only seeing the works of love and power which Jesus then wrought at Jerusalem, but being so moved by all they saw and heard, as to welcome his visit to their neighbourhood. Observe then that those who neglect God's house and worship, little consider of what a blessing they may deprive themselves. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you; is His our engagement. What greater blessing can anyone have, than the earnest, deep, longing of his own heart to know Christ, or what more blessed than to have experience in his own soul of the ascended Saviour, that he is able to save for ever them that come to God by him. If that most awful word, you will not come to me that you may have life, was true of them of Nazareth, of the Galileans that most sweet promise would be true, him that cometh to me, I will not cast out. May this influence us to expect the Lord and wait for him; and our expectation shall not fail. And mark, how much we may learn from these historical records of Holy Scripture and of the earthly life of our Lord and Saviour. How much they lose who neglect these Scriptures.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp