not to be bought but by the sale of every thing else. " He went his way, and sold all that he had and bought it." "Happy is the man," says St. Gregory, "who with all his fortunes is able to purchase Christ." Hence, St. Paul writes: " For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as dying, that I may gain Christ." (Phil. iii. 8.) Examine your conduct in this respect.
TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
When the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost comes before November, take the Meditation of the Third Sunday after Epiphany on page 128.
MONDAY.
The Lost Sheep.
I. " What man among you that hath a hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost?" (Luke xv. 4.) This man is Christ, the sheep are the faithful. Christ performs to the full extent all the offices of a good shepherd. He came down from heaven to feed them; He marks them for His own, with a divine and indelible character; He leads them by His example to all virtue; He cures their infirmities; He defends them from the wolves of hell; He provides them with the rich pastures of His doctrine and sacraments, and finally He gives them His own body and blood for their food and nourishment. The faithful hear His voice, obey His commands and follow Him wherever He leads the way; they delight in His pastures and surrender themselves entirely to Him: living and dying they are His.
