Him with thorns, condemn Him to death, and nail Him to the cross; but this was not to happen till the appointed time. Therefore when the wicked Pharisees were seeking in all places to put Him out of the way, as St. John says, “They sought therefore to apprehend Him: and no man laid hands on Him, because His hour was not yet come.”[1] But afterwards when the hour came for suffering, He Himself said to His disciple: “Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners.”[2] My dear brethren, the same Saviour has determined to revenge Himself on His enemies, and to condemn wicked sinners to the eternal flames of hell; but the hour appointed for that is not yet come. Now He bears many insults from them with the utmost patience; He shows Himself to them as their Saviour and Redeemer, their Pledge and Advocate; He is constantly offering them His grace, if at any moment they will only resolve to return to Him. But when His time comes He will appear with great power and majesty to judge the living and the dead. And how He will then be changed! Sinners! ah, do not wait till that hour of the Lord! Wo to you if you do not profit in time of the graces now offered you; for that meek and gentle Saviour will otherwise pronounce the final sentence on you, and condemn you to eternal damnation. Nay, He will condemn you all the more because He is your Saviour and Redeemer, as I shall now show.
Plan of Discourse.
He will condemn you on account of His fidelity to you, which you have neglected: the first part. He will condemn you on account of the love He has shown you, which you have despised: the second part.
O just Judge and loving Saviour! that we may not be condemned by Thee in that last hour, speak now to our hearts, that the wicked may renounce sin, and the just be confirmed in their justice, through the intercession of Thy Mother Mary, and of our holy guardian angels.
The fidelity and friendship of Our When a good, well-meaning friend offers to act as arbitrator in a case on which much depends, and after much trouble suc-
