of the latter will be far different: The Lord of that servant will come in a day he expecteth not, and at an hour that he knoweth not, and shall separate him, and shall appoint him his portion with unbelievers." Imitate, therefore, the good and faithful steward in order that you may not be punished with the wicked servant.
THURSDAY
The Girding of the Loins.
I. "Let your loins be girded, and lamps burning in your hands, and you yourselves like to men who wait for their Lord when He shall return from the wedding!" (Luke xii. 35.) Diligent and attentive servants carefully watch for the arrival of their masters. Such diligence and attention Christ requires from us. "We gird our loins," says St. Gregory, " when we restrain luxury by continence, and we hold burning lamps in our hands when by good works we show our neighbors the light of our example." Examine how you perform this double duty.
II. The good servants are thus attentive in order " that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open to Him immediately." (Luke xii. 36.) " Our Lord comes to us," says St. Gregory, "when He hastens to judge us at our death; He knocks when He sends us sickness, the forerunner of dissolution." On this occasion, the good with joy "open to Him, having a desire," as the Apostle says, " to be dissolved and to be with Christ." (Phil i. 23.) On the contrary, with what an unwilling heart do the wicked let Him in when He knocks! Hence, the author of Ecclesiasticus exclaims, " O death, how bitter is the remem-
