A "FIVE-MINUTE SERMON."
By A Catholic Priest
"Jesus therefore when he knew that they would come to take him by force and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone." John 6:15, Rheims Version. WHY, my brethren, did Jesus depart from the people before whom he had worked a miracle?—It was because they conceived the idea of making him king. He would have us imitators of him by spurning the vain praises and glory of men. As an excessive attachment to these is the chief element of the corrupt world, our Lord brings down upon it the whole weight of his severest condemnation. He warns us not to do our good works before men to be seen and praised by them, for if we do, he says that we shall have no reward from our Father in heaven. Alas! does not our own experience teach us how fickle and deceitful the friendship of the world is, how unjust are its judgments, how vain are its promises? It amuses us with its flatteries, it deceives us even while caressing us, and promises much while it performs nothing. We have, perhaps, longed for some worldly distinction, and have had our desire satisfied, but have we found contentment? Even in its possession were we not troubled, in spite of ourselves, by the thought, how long will this glory last? If we reflect upon it, what can be more frivolous than reputation and the esteem of the world? If one person esteems me, another despises me; for who has ever had the approbation of the whole world? And if the multitude has a high opinion of me, what is, after all, the multitude but a crowd of blind people, who esteem me to-day, but are just as likely to spurn me to-morrow? But, even if their esteem were most sincere, would it make me really better or happier? If others applaud me when my own conscience condemns me, of what service is their praise to me? So, too, if I am satisfied with myself and think I deserve the good opinion of men, how does it all benefit me if God condemns me? I am, in truth, only that which I am in the judgment of God, and to seek the applause of the world with too much eagerness is often to incur the disapprobation of God. Oh, that you would cast yourselves at the feet of the Crucified and there learn in what the glory of God—the only true greatness—consists! Happier were you to-day had your past life been lived for God. What of those jealousies which made you troubled at the success of others? Why that slander which spared no one when there was question of establishing your own reputation? How account for that unbridled love of notoriety which so often caused you to dethrone God and place Baal in his stead? Whence came they?—From the desire of the world's esteem and from forgetfulness of God. If you have been foolish in the past, let not the future find you thus. What will it profit you, at the hour of death, to have been regarded as clever, if you must soon appear, with empty hands, before the awful tribunal of God? Will you forsake an eternity of happiness for the vain enjoyment of a momentary esteem? God forbid that you should sacrifice the salvation of your soul for emptiness. Make good resolutions, then, while you have time. It is not necessary that you should quit your station in life, that you should leave the world. Salvation can be gained in every station of life; but live with the world instant265fear of its treachery; keep yourself in peace but not in alliance with it; shun its displeasure, but seek not its friendship. Should its commands be in opposition to virtue, hesitate not a moment in spurning them; should its practice be at variance with the gospel, try not to compromise. Think not of serving two masters; choose the One who can and will repay your attachment. "This therefore I say, brethren," exclaimed St. Paul, "the time is short; it remaineth, that . . . they that weep, [be] as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as if they used it not; for the fashion of this world passeth away."—Catholic News.