receiving it they murmured against the master of the house, saying, These last have worked but one hour, and

thou hast made them equal to us that have borne the burden of the day and the heats. But he answering, said to one of them, Friend I do thee no wrong; didst thou not agree with me for a penny, take what is thine and go thy way; I will also give to this last even as to thee; or is it not lawful for me to do what I will; is thy eye evil because I am good. So shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called but few chosen.' (Matt. xx.)

What instruction may you derive from the above parable? To labour diligently in performing the duties allotted without murmuring at the comparative ease enjoyed by some; and knowing that labour is appointed by God, to acquit ourselves of the portion that devolves to us with such fidelity as will hereafter merit for us to hear, "Well done good and faithful servant, as thou hast been faithful over few things I will place thee over many, enter into the joy of thy Lord."

Lesson Twenty-eighth.

PARARLE OF THE VINEYARD LET OUT TO HUSBAND MEN.

What parable did our Lord speak to forewarn the Jews that if they did not repent the kingdom of God should be transferred from them to the gentiles?

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And the

There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it, and dug in it a press, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange country. And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits thereof. husbandmen laying hands on his servants, beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants more than the former, and they did to them in like manner; and last of all he sent to them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But the husbandmen, seeing the son, said among themselves, This is the heir, come let us kill him and we shall have his inherit ance, and taking him they cast him forth out of the vineyard and killed him." (Matt. xxi. 33.)

What answer did the Jews give when our Lord said, When therefore the Lord of the vineyard shall come what shall he do to these husbandmen?

They replied "He will bring these evil men to an evil end, and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen that shall render him the fruit in due season."

What did our Lord say further?

Have you never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. By the Lord this has been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes. Therefore I say to you that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a nation yielding the fruits thereof."

Was the above parable calculated to remind the Jews of ancient prophecies and so lead them to reflect and repent? It was; both Isaias and Jeremias had compared them

to a vineyard on which no trouble had been spared yet which produced only briers and thorns.

Repeat the prophecies ?

'My beloved had a vineyard on a hill in a fruitful place; and he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted it with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof, and set up a wine press therein. and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and ye men of Juda, judge between me and my vineyard, what is there that I ought to do more for my vineyard, that I have not done to it......And now I will show you what I will do to my vineyard, I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be wasted; I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down; and I will make it desolate, and it shall not be pruned and it shall not be digged, but briers and thorns shall come up; and I will command the clouds to rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the man of Juda His pleasant plant; and I looked that he should do judgment and behold iniquity; and do justice and behold a cry." (Isaias v.) "Yet I planted them a chosen vineyard all true seed; how art thou turned unto me, into that which is good for nothing, O strange vineyard." (Jer. ii. 21.)

Ought not we likewise derive instruction and warning by the above parable and prophecies?

Yes; for though addressed to the Jews, they are applicable to Christians whom God has planted in His Church, fenced in with holy laws, and provided with the holy sacraments as so many conduits of His grace. In it He expects the faithful to prune all superfluities by mortification; to dig deeply into their souls by a profound knowledge of self; to root out by contrary acts the briers of vicious habits; and water with tears of compunction the dry affections of their hearts, that so they may render fruit in due season, and deserve praise instead of reproach from their Heavenly Master.

Lesson Twenty-ninth.

PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST, AND OF THE TEN

Repeat the parable of the marriage feast?

"The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who made a marriage for his son; and he sent his servants to call them that were invited to the marriage, and they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell them that were invited, Behold I have prepared my dinner, my beeves and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready, come ye to the marriage. But they neglected and went their ways, one to his farm and another to his merchandize, and the rest laid hands upon his servants, and having treated them contumeliously put them to death. But when the king had heard of it, he was angry, and sending his armies he destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he saith to his servants, The marriage indeed is ready, but they that were invited were not worthy, go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find call to the marriage. And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found both bad and good; and the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went in to see the

guests, and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment, and he saith to him, Friend how camest thou in hither, not having on a wedding garment, but he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters, Bind his hands and his feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; for many are called but few are chosen." (Matt. xxii. 1.)

What application may you make of this parable in order to derive fruit from it?

To approach the Holy Table at the appointed times with due preparation, humility and gratitude; and never to presume to do so unless clothed with the nuptial robe of charity, and the grace of God.

What parable did our Lord relate to warn His disciples to be always prepared for death?

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Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the

bridegroom and the bride: and five of them were foolish and five wise. But the five foolish having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept; and at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh go ye forth to meet him; then all these virgins arose and trimmed their lamps: and the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying, Lest perhaps there be not enough