Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/482

 entreated by  earnest  prayer. You must  approach  Him with the  most  profound  humility;  for  "  the  servant  falling down,  besought  Him." You are  to  make  a  firm resolution of  amendment. " Have  patience  with  Me, and  I  will  repay  thee  all." You must  forgive  your brother, if  you  have  any  uncharitable  feeling  against him — " Should  not  thou,  then,  have  had  compassion  also on  thy  fellow  servant,  even  as  I  had  compassion  on  thee? Forgive,  and  you  shall  be  forgiven." (Luke vi.  37.)

I. "  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  to  a  master  of  a family  who  went  out  early  in  the  morning  to  hire  laborers." (Matt. xx.  1.)  This  "master  of  a  family"  is  God Himself, who,  although  He  be  the  Lord  of  the  kingdoms of heaven  and  earth,  nevertheless  provides  in  such  a manner  for  the  smallest  wants  of  each  individual,  that  it might  seem  that  He  is  master  only  of  a  small  family. His vineyard  is  the  Church,  the  vines  are  all  the  faithful, the workmen  are  His  pastors,  and  the  faithful  themselves; for  every  one  must  take  care  of  his  own  soul. What a  happiness  it  is  to  labor  in  such  a  vineyard,  under such a  master,  and  in  cultivating  such  precious  vines! Let this  reflection  induce  you  to  labor  seriously  in  performing your  task  in  this  vineyard.

II. Consider the  solicitude  of  the  master  of  the  family. " He  went  out  early  in  the  morning  to  hire  laborers." From the  very  commencement  of  the  world,  in  every age, God  calls  these  workmen. He calls  every  one  to Himself,  from  the  first  use  of  their  reason. Although