Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/310

Brethren, is the nature of the human heart — wide enough to entertain almost infinite joy, and again so small as to be filled by one drop of adversity. Such is the nature of human gratitude — a life-long kindness is soon forgotten at the first favor denied. Our hearts are like the flowers of springtime — under the genial sunshine of prosperity, they spread out to their fullest extent, but they quickly close up in the darkness of suffering and sorrow. And so with the Apostles — sorrow filled their hearts when they learned their future was to be one, not of joy but of sadness; not of earthly greatness but of humiliation and death. Notice that though it pained Our Lord to cause them pain, still, He did not shrink from His purpose and His duty. True, He coats the bitter pill of separation with the sweet assurance of ultimate return, saying: " A little while and you shall not see Me, and again, a little while and you shall see Me; for I will see you again and your hearts shall rejoice and your joy no man shall take from you." Still, the love of Our Lord being of the true kind, He fears not to mingle in their draught the useful with the sweet. Many a father and mother who think they fondly love their children, in reality hate them, by acceding to all their desires, humoring their every whim, and encouraging them in habits that must ultimately accomplish their ruin. Many a son or daughter, called by God to a higher life in religion, refuses, through false love of home or parents, to follow the call, lest, forsooth, sorrow should fill their hearts. Many a person allows his or her