reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn."

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'Another parable He proposed to them, saying: To what shall we liken the kingdom of God, or to what parable shall we compare it? The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took and sowed in his field: which is the least indeed of all seeds that are in the earth: but when it is grown up, it becometh greater than all herbs, and becometh a tree, and shooteth out great branches, so that the birds of the air come, and dwell in the shadow thereof. Another parable He spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes, according as they were able to hear and without parables He did not speak to them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world. But apart He explained all things to His disciples. Then having sent away the multitudes, He came into the house: and His disciples came to Him, saying: Expound to us the parable of the cockle of the field. Who made answer and said to them: He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man. And the field is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle are the children of the wicked one. And the enemy that sowed them is the devil. But the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels. Even as cockle therefore is gathered up and burnt with fire, so shall it be at the end of the world; the Son of man shall send His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all scandals and them that work iniquity: And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

4. THE EXCELLENCE OF THE CHURCH. THE TREASURE IN THE FIELD. THE PEARL. THE AIM OF GOD'S CHURCH ON EARTH.

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD and the USELESS FISHES The supernatural wealth of truth and of saving grace bequeathed by Christ to His kingdom on earth, the Church, is the only really valuable good. Learning, gold, property, honor, sensual enjoyment, can not be compared with these gifts from heaven.

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls. Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kinds of fishes; which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have ye understood all these things? They say to Him: Yes. He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old. And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, He passed from thence."

Let us lay this parable close to our hearts. He who finds the treasure in the field and squanders it; he who buys the pearl, but, through carelessness and levity, loses it-that is to say, the Christian who, after having been endowed with God's grace, despises and rejects it-can expect naught else, if he continue in his indifference, but to be cast away forever.

CHAPTER XXII

CHRIST STILLS THE STORM

Matt. viii. 18-27; Mark iv. 35-40; Luke viii. 22-25

ALTHOUGH the holy Catholic Church, by her divine origin, her supernatural riches, and her irresistible growth, proves herself to be the kingdom of God on earth, yet, because her lot is cast amid the wickedness of the world, she cannot escape the assaults and persecution. But she will not fail, nor even flinch, under the severest attacks. Inseparably united to Jesus, who is her anchor of safety, she will ride the wildest sea and withstand the fiercest blast; till, at the proper time,

when just as all seems lost, her divine Captain will awake, stand up, and say to her persecutors, "Be still."

"And that same day, when evening was come, Jesus seeing great multitudes about Him, gave orders to pass over the water, saying: Let us pass over to the other side. And a certain scribe came and said to Him: Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou shalt go. And Jesus saith to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head. And another of His disciples said to Him: Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said to him: Follow Me, and let the dead bury their dead. And when He entered into the boat, His disciples followed Him, and sending away the multitudes, they take Him, even as He was, in the ship. There were other ships with them. And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, a storm of wind and wave, so that the ship was filled and covered with waves, and was in danger. But Jesus was asleep on a pillow in the hinder part of the ship. And His disciples came to Him, and awaked Him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish! Master, doth it not concern Thee that we perish? And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Have ye not faith yet? Then rising up, He commanded the winds and the sea, saying: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there came a great calm. And He said to them: Where is your faith? But they feared exceedingly, and said, wondering, one to another: Who is this, thinkest thou, that both wind and sea obey Him? What manner of man is this?"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE TWO PERSONS POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL IN THE LAND OF THE GERASENS

Matt. viii. 28-34; Mark v. 1-20; Luke viii. 26-39

UNBLEMISHED purity and holiness, such as the Saviour's, are always an object of horror to the evil spirit.

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And they came over the strait of the sea into the country of the Gerasens, which is over against Galilee. And as Jesus went out of the ship to the land, immediately there met Him

out of the monuments a man with an unclean spirit1 now a very long time; and he wore no garments, neither did he abide in a house: who had his dwelling in the tombs, and no man now could bind him even with chains. For having been often bound with fetters and chains, he had burst the chains, and broken the fetters in pieces, and no one could tame him; and he was always day and night in the monuments and in the mountains, crying and cutting himself with stones, and exceeding fierce, so that none could pass by that way. And seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and adored Him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said: What have I to do with Thee, Jesus the Son of the most high God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? I adjure Thee by God that thou torment me not.2 For He said unto him: Go out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And Jesus asked him: What is thy name? And he saith to Him: My name is Legion, for we are many. And the devils besought Him much that He would not drive them away out of the country, nor command them to go into the abyss. And there was there near the mountain, a great herd of swine, feeding. And the spirits besought Him, saying: If thou cast us out, send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And Jesus immediately gave them leave. And the unclean spirits going out, entered into the swine and the herd with great violence was carried headlong down a steep place into the sea, being about 2000, and were stifled in the waters."

In this thrilling occurrence we discover a great and twofold mystery: the mystery of Christ's power, as well also as that of the evil spirit. Man having, through sin, rebelled against God, was, in punishment of his disloyalty, made subject, himself and all creation of which he had once been the master, to the power of the devil. How appalling this power of the devil was over men and senseless creatures, when permitted by God, is seen in the miracle at Gerasa. But this power crumbles before the might of the Son of man.

"And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the fields, and in the villages. And the whole city went out to see what was done. And they come to Jesus: and they see him that was troubled with the devil, sitting at the feet

'St. Matthew speaks of a second possessed person who accompanied the above, and who also approached Jesus.

"It is the devil, not the possessed man, who utters these words. The latter is the unwilling agent of the former.

of Jesus, clothed, and well in his wits, and they were afraid. And they that had seen it, told them in what manner he had been dealt with, who had the devil, and concerning the swine. And the multitude of the country of the Gerasens began to pray Him that He would depart from their coasts, for they were taken with great fear. And when Jesus went up into the ship, He that had been troubled with the devil began to beseech Him that He might be with Him, and He admitted him not, but saith to him: Go into thy house to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had mercy on thee. And he went his way and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men wondered."

CHAPTER XXIV

JESUS HEALS THE WOMAN WITH AN ISSUE OF BLOOD. HE RAISES THE DAUGHTER

OF JAIRUS FROM THE DEAD

Matt. ix. 18-26; Mark v. 21-43; Luke viii. 40-56

ARE we to look upon the various miracles of Christ as mere passing events? Certainly not. They are overflowing with consolation for the afflicted and the needy of all times. The arm of Him who, eighteen centuries ago, healed the sick and raised the dead to life by a single word, and even by the touch of His garment, is not yet weakened, nor is His mercy diminished.

"And when Jesus had passed again in the ship over the strait, a great multitude assembled together unto Him waiting and He was nigh unto the sea. And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue named Jairus: and seeing Jesus, falleth down at His feet. And he besought Him much that He would come into his house, saying: My daughter is at the point of death; come, lay thy hand upon her, that she may be safe, and may live. And Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him, and they thronged Him. And a woman came who was under an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians,