The kingdom of heaven is like to the father of a family, who goes out very early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. He comes to the square in the city where workmen gather, waiting for some one to engage them. He finds them there and hires them to work in his vineyard, agreeing to give them a penny a day. Three hours afterward he goes there again, and finds some more who wish to work; these also he sends to work and promises them what is just. Again, three hours afterward, he does the same, and also at the ninth hour, which is in the afternoon when the heat of the day is over and the day is far spent, when they could not expect to be hired except for small jobs; still this father of a family whose work was very pressing hires them also. Not yet satisfied, just before the last hour, he goes to the market-place, and still there are some standing waiting, thinking perhaps that they may obtain work for the day following. But so great was the hurry of the father of the family, that these also he sends to his vineyard to work for that one short hour.

"Who is that father of a family, my dear young people? He is our good God. It is the Lord of heaven and earth who wants us all, without exception, to go to work in His vineyard, which is the Church. As is stated. He is continually calling and sending laborers to His vineyard. But your own little soul is also meant in speaking of the vineyard. From your earliest childhood God has called you to work there. Have you worked hard and faithfully that a good harvest might be obtained? Perhaps you have not given it a thought, and have been idle all the day. All your thoughts and endeavors were directed to enjoying yourself in this world; you passed your time in play and idleness. The word of God was loathsome to you; not only did you not think of doing right, but you even looked forward to do evil; you labored to ruin your soul, you grew fatigued in the ways of wickedness, you would not listen to the loving invitation of God: "Go you also into My vineyard." Great will be the punishment of such young people.

But you, my willing young people, will listen to the invitation, and at once proceed to the cultivation of your hearts. Listen to the instruction of your parents, look for the society of good companions, attend to the prayers and exhortations of your teachers and your confessors. Continually, hour after hour. Our Lord knocks at the door of your hearts; He wants to enter and remain there. He is anxious to obtain full possession of your soul. He is not looking for a share in your heart, but for the whole of it; the heart is after all, small; the more you give it to the world the less will remain for God.

St. Teresa had affection for a certain relative; she noticed her attachment was becoming stronger, and she gave it up. Then Our Lord said to her,

"Now you are altogether Mine and I am all yours.'' But some of you may say that according to the Gospel it does not seem necessary to go to work at the first call there is time enough, the invitation will certainly be repeated several times in the future and all will heed it. God is so good. He will gladly receive us into His vineyard at any time of our life. Had the workmen who stood there awaiting a call said,

"Well, we will not go now, but will wait till later in the day," what would the father of the family have said? Would he have waited for them? It is not likely; even though God is merciful and of infinite goodness, will He continue to waste His invitation on nnwilling creatures? Is not this good God worthy to be served by you from your dhildhood? Are you going to give Him only the last days oi your life. He who is worthy of all love? We would certainly fall into despair if we came to the end of our lives and found we had done nothing for the glory of God.

There lived a certain man who spent the most of his life in enjoyments. He used to say,

"How beautiful the world is! I have all I want, money in plenty, servants at my command,
good food, magnificent estates, and agreeable companions. Let me have a carnival the whole year round." In this way he continued to live the most of his life, but in old age he began to think that there was another world, where he knew he would be unhappy for all eternity. He became a Religious, and consecrated himself entirely to God. In the beginning the poor man was so ashamed of himself before God, that he had enjoyed the wicked world and now was willing to cheat the devil, that it seemed almost dishonest of him to participate in so much glory in heaven, when he had deserved nothing but condemnation in hell. He seemed to hear a voice within him saying,

"You are, a nice fellow; you got all the pleasure that was possible out of the world, and when it has lost its charms you give the leavings to God. What do you think God can do with such refuse?" It was enough to drive him to despair, for what answer could he make? The case was plainly against him. You, my dear young people, began long ago to serve God, all your days have been spent in His service; if sometimes you have fallen you have begun again. St. Thomas says that,

"They who have served God from childhood will certainly be saved." When evening came the father of the family gave orders that each one should receive what he had earned, the last as well as the first. And what reward, did the last get? They received as much as those who had worked since early morning. But why were all paid equally? Because the last were full of fervor and zeal, and had the good intention of laboring faithfully. God, you see, not only pays for our work but also for our intention. Have the intention to do great things for God, and even though you do not perform them they will be placed to your credit. In the morning say your prayers and at the same time wish that you could pray always; hear Mass with the feeling that you would like to hear all the Masses that are celebrated all over the world; go to communion occasionally, wishing that you could receive Jesus every day. Study to bring back wayward youths by your words and good example, praying that almighty God may extend the favor of His graces to all that have gone astray.

Suffer patiently for God's sake the little injuries that one meets with in everyday life, with the resolution of enduring any injuries, fatigues, or labors that God may be pleased to send you. Would you not become very rich in merit if you lived in this manner? God, on the Last Day, will call His faithful servants to sit on His own throne and will fill them with great joy. If you think of this, how careful you will be to remain faithful to God and endeavor to merit more. The trouble with all of us in this world is, that we forget that heaven is to be the reward of our good actions. My young people, raise your eyes to heaven. Do much good, lead holy lives and make all efforts to gain the pleasure of paradise.

In the time of St. Augustine there lived in Rome a lady named Melania. One day she began to think seriously of her salvation; moved by this thought, she gave up all the gayeties of the world, and began to mortify herself so much that in a short time she became greatly emaciated; her uncle, a man without much conscience, had not been at home when she was converted, and when he saw her face colorless and reduced in flesh, he cried out,

''Is this the handsome lady Melania?" She gave him this beautiful answer:

"The love of heaven has done this.'' The words were spoken with such fervor and conviction that he was converted, though the eloquent sermons of St. Augustine had never made any impression on him. My dear young people, no longer hesitate to make the good resolution to gain heaven at any cost; omit nothing that will conduce to that end; do not believe yourself secure until you are in heaven, for Our Lord concludes His Gospel by saying:

"Many are called but few are chosen." Be not terrified or disheartened by these words, for those only will lose heaven who neglect the things that would bring them there. Pray then a great deal, go to confession often, receive communion frequently, avoid mortal sin, hate even venial sins, and you will surely go to heaven.

                                    Sermons for Children's Masses, Imprimatur 1900

                                                                           Obedience

This morning’s question: What is the fourth commandment? Honor thy father and thy mother. Honor in that catechism answer means to obey. Every one of Christ’s children must learn to obey. To obey does not mean to do what you are told. It means to do exactly what you are told. There is a difference there. Maybe this story will help to make that clear to you.

While the great St. Francis of Assisi was alive two men came to the door of his monastery and asked if they could join his order—the Friars Minor. St. Francis asked them several questions and finally said, “Will you keep the vow of poverty?” Both the men said they would. “Will you keep the vow of chastity?” asked Francis. “We will,” replied the men. Finally St. Francis asked, “Will you keep the vow of obedience?” Both said “Yes.” “Then come with me,” said St. Francis, and he led the two men into the garden. In the garden the two men got the correct idea of the religious life and of obedience. St. Francis gave them each, of all things, two carrots and said, “Plant these.” The two began to dig into the ground. “Now, said the Saint, “I do not want them just planted. I want them planted upside down.” One man planted his carrots upside down. The other man scratched his head and said, “Oh, no, Father Francis, you are a very holy man and know many things, but you do not know how to plant carrots. Here’s how you do it. You plant them this way.” And he planted his right side up. St. Francis smiled at him tolerantly and said, “Young man, you would make a very good gardener, because you plant carrots right side up, but you will not make a good Franciscan unless you learn to obey. Now plant them upside down. You must learn that to obey means to do exactly what you are told to do.” But St. Francis was not finished with his lesson on obedience. He said, “What a shame! I’ve made you spoil the carrots that were meant for our supper. There are some nice ones in the next garden. Jump over the hedge and steal two of them.” The man hopped over the fence to steal two of the carrots. Immediately St. Francis called him back and finished the lesson. “To plant carrots upside down is one thing. To steal them is another. You must obey your superiors—but only in things which are not sinful.”

That story shows that obedience means that we should do exactly as we are told as long as we are not told to sin. It does not mean that we may do the thing any old way that we please. If we are told to do our homework now, that means that we must do it now and not after we finish the chapter of the novel we are reading. If we are told to be home at seven o’clock, we do not obey if we just straggle home when we are ready. We must be home on time. If our parents wanted us home at 7:15 they would say 7:15. But they said seven and that meant seven. If we are told to wash the dishes, we do not obey if we put them away without being dried properly. To be obedient we must do exactly what we are told. That means that we must do the things we are told to do (and not something else); when we are told to do it (not when we feel like it) and in the proper manner (not carelessly or sloppily). If you do not do all of these things you cannot call yourselves obedient. Both of the men in the story planted the carrots in the ground but one was obedient and the other was not. One did exactly as he was told. The other did it the way he felt like doing it. Remember this next time you are told to do something. If you are told to plant carrots upside down, then plant them upside down. It is not your mistake if you do what you are told to do. You obeyed and to obey means to do exactly what you are told to do.

                                                                  ~ “Heavenwords,” Imprimatur 1941 ~

                                               "Be not wise in your own conceits.”

Saint Osmund was a great English bishop who lived in the eleventh century. He was a holy man and was loved by rich and poor for his many virtues. One night while he was praying, so goes the story, the Devil appeared to him and began to argue. “Why do people call you good and me bad, when I have as many virtues as you have?” said the Devil. “You fast and mortify yourself, but I never eat. So I am just as good as you. You keep long watches during the night but I never sleep. So I am just as good as you. You are always working, but I never rest. So I am just as good as you. You try to make people happy, but I am always promising them happiness too. So I am just as good as you. I have the same virtues that you have. Why do people call me a devil and you a saint?” St.
Osmund replied, “I don’t know.”

If you listened carefully to that story you should be able to tell the difference between St. Osmund and the Devil. The Devil had no humility. Any time you find yourself saying, “I am better than anybody else,” that means that you are not. How can we tell whether we are as good as anyone else? Only God knows that. The words of the Devil are very much like the words of the Pharisee in our Lord’s story. You remember how the Pharisee went up to the Temple to pray and said, “I thank Thee, Lord, that I am not like the rest of men.” Humility is a virtue which is most pleasing to God, just as it is pleasing to men. Pride is hateful to God, just as it is hateful to men.

How can you tell whether you are proud or not? You are if you cannot give the proper answer to these questions.

1. Can I mind my own business?

2. Am I a good loser?

3. Do I say mean things about others all the time?

4. Am I always complaining?

5. Do I always want to be first?

6. Do I argue too much?

You may work as hard as the Devil and you may be as smart as the Devil, but without humility these things will not help you much. The man who prayed humbly in the Temple, not the proud Pharisee, was the man who went home with the smile of God upon him.

                                                  ~ “Heirs of the Kingdom,” Imprimatur 1949 ~