FIFTY-SIXTH SERMON.
ON AVOIDING IDLENESS IF WE WISH TO GAIN HEAVEN.
Subject.
An idle life can bring no man to eternal life. Therefore he who desires to go to heaven must avoid idleness.—Preached on the seventh Sunday after Pentecost.
Text.
Omnis arbor quæ non facit fructum bonum, excidetur et in ignem mittetur.—Matt. vii. 19.
“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and shall be cast into the fire.”
Introduction.
Let those words be weighed attentively by all those who spend the most of their time in incessant worldly cares, or in idleness, doing nothing, vain amusements, and useless occupations. Do these people imagine that such a life will bring them to heaven? Ah, that cannot be: “Not every one that saith to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,” as we read in to-day’s Gospel, “but he that doth the will of My Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” And what is to become of those good-for-nothing people who produce no fruit of good works? My text answers that question: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and shall be cast into the fire.” In a word, idlers shall have no share in heaven, as I now mean to prove.
Plan of Discourse.
An idle life can bring no man to eternal life. Therefore he who desires to go to heaven must avoid idleness. Such is the whole subject of this discourse.
And that we may not pass this hour idly, that is, without fruit for our souls, we humbly beg Thy light and help, O Holy Ghost! through the intercession of Mary and of the holy angels.
