Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/559

 The  Parable  of  the  Pearl also  signifies  the  great  happiness  of possessing  the  true  faith  and  being  in  a state  of  grace. He who  really and laboriously  strives  after  truth  and  salvation  will  obtain  them. “There exists, however,  only  one  pearl  without  price,  for  there  exists  only  one Truth. And even  as  the  wise  merchant  who  bought  this  pearl  at  the cost of  all  that  he  possessed,  alone  knew  how  rich  he  had  become  by the  possession  of  it,  so  only  those  who  belong  to  the  Church  and  possess grace know  how  rich  they  are. Those who  have  not  the  faith  are ignorant of  its  value,  and  have  no  conception  how  rich  those  are  who possess it!”  (St.  Irenaeus.)

The separation  at  the  Last  Judgment.  The  parable  of  the  net  full of good  and  bad  fish  conveys  the  same  lesson  as  the  parable  of  the wheat and  the  cockle. We became  members  of  the  Church  when  we were  baptized; but  our  Baptism  by  no  means  ensured  our  reception into heaven. If we  do  not  keep  our  baptismal  vows  and  remain  in  a state  of  God’s  grace,  we  shall  be  finally  rejected,  and  cast  out  of  the net like  the  bad  fish.

The grace  of  God  is  the  greatest  of  all  treasures, and  a pearl  indeed  without  price. Have you  ever  lost  it  by mortal  sin?

You can  now  understand  better  than  you  did  before  the meaning of  the  petition:  “Thy  kingdom  come.”  May  the  kingdom of God,  His  holy  Church,  ever  grow,  ever  put  forth  boughs  and branches, and  ever  bring  unbelievers  and  heathen  into  her  fold! May the  kingdom  of  God’s  grace  and  truth  also  continually  sink into your  heart,  enlightening,  purifying,  and  sanctifying  you,  so that  you  may  be  able  to  attain  to  God’s  everlasting  kingdom  in heaven! Say often  and  devoutly,  and  in  this  sense,  the  prayer: “Thy kingdom  come”,  both  for  yourself,  and  for  all  those  dear to you.

NE evening  Jesus  entered  into  a boat  (Fig.  76), and His disciples  followed  Him. A great tempest  arose  in the  sea,  so  that  the  boat  was  covered  with  waves,  and