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 Brethren, is  the  nature  of  the  human  heart — wide enough to  entertain  almost  infinite  joy,  and  again  so small  as  to  be  filled  by  one  drop  of  adversity. Such is the  nature  of  human  gratitude — a  life-long  kindness is  soon  forgotten  at  the  first  favor  denied. Our hearts  are  like  the  flowers  of  springtime — under the genial  sunshine  of  prosperity,  they  spread  out  to their  fullest  extent,  but  they  quickly  close  up  in  the darkness of  suffering  and  sorrow. And so  with  the Apostles — sorrow filled  their  hearts  when  they learned their  future  was  to  be  one,  not  of  joy  but  of sadness;  not  of  earthly  greatness  but  of  humiliation and death. Notice that  though  it  pained  Our  Lord to cause  them  pain,  still,  He  did  not  shrink  from  His purpose and  His  duty. True, He  coats  the  bitter pill of  separation  with  the  sweet  assurance  of  ultimate return,  saying:  "  A  little  while  and  you  shall not  see  Me,  and  again,  a  little  while  and  you  shall see  Me;  for  I  will  see  you  again  and  your  hearts  shall rejoice  and  your  joy  no  man  shall  take  from  you." Still, the  love  of  Our  Lord  being  of  the  true  kind, He fears  not  to  mingle  in  their  draught  the  useful with the  sweet. Many a  father  and  mother  who think they  fondly  love  their  children,  in  reality  hate them, by  acceding  to  all  their  desires,  humoring their every  whim,  and  encouraging  them  in  habits that must  ultimately  accomplish  their  ruin. Many a son  or  daughter,  called  by  God  to  a  higher  life  in  religion, refuses,  through  false  love  of  home  or  parents, to  follow  the  call,  lest,  forsooth,  sorrow  should fill their  hearts. Many a  person  allows  his  or  her