Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/157



I. Your  soul,  and  the  soul  of  every  rational  creature,  is a  particular  vineyard,  belonging  to  the  "great  Master  of the  family,"  who  is  the  subject  of  the  Gospel  of  this  day. Feel convinced  that,  to-day,  He  will  come  to  examine  His vineyard in  you,  and  to  gather  fruit  from  it. Hear Him say, with  the  Spouse,  in  the  Canticle:  "  Let  us  go  up  early to  the  vineyards;  let  us  see  if  the  vineyards  flourish:  if the  flowers  be  ready  to  bring  forth  fruits." (Cant. vii.  12.)

II. This divine  Master  of  the  family  has  omitted  nothing on  His  part  which  might  conduce  to  render  you  a fertile  vineyard. " I  planted  thee,"  He  says  by  His  prophet, "  a  chosen  vineyard,  all  true  seed." (Jer. ii.  21.)  He has  sown  in  your  soul  much  seed  of  true  and  real  piety; He has  guarded  this  seed  by  the  inclosure  of  salutary laws; He  has  given  you  His  sacraments,  as  channels  to convey  to  your  soul  the  fertilizing  moisture  of  His  grace. He has  omitted  nothing  which  could  be  beneficial  to you. " What  is  there,"  He  says,  "  that  I  ought  to  do  more to  my  vineyard  that  I  have  not  done  to  it?" Take care, then, that  you  yield  Him  proper  fruit;  beware  lest  the following part  of  the  passage  be  applicable  to  you:  "I looked  that  it  should  bring  forth  grapes,  and  it  hath brought  forth  wild  grapes." (Is. v.  4.)  If  this  be  the case, you  have  reason  to  fear  the  threat  which  hangs over you:  "And  now  I  will  show  you  what  I  will  do  to my  vineyard:  I  will  take  away  the  hedge  thereof,  and  it shall  be  wasted;  it  shall  not  be  pruned,  and  it  shall  not