Third Sunday After Pentecost.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus.
" What man 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.
SYNOPSIS.
Ex. : I. Charity Sunday. II. Parabolic crescendo. III. Love human and divine.
I. Charity : 1. First essential. 2. Hope and consolation.
3. Christianity's origin.
II. Loving heart: 1. Light and heat. 2. Food and drink. 3. Clothing and wealth,
III. Sacred Heart: 1. Model. 2. John on Jesus' breast. 3. Love of men for Jesus.
Per. : 1. Gift of God. 2. Keep Commandments. 3. Worship Sacred Heart.
SERMON.
Brethren, to-day might very appropriately be styled Charity Sunday. The Gospel theme is charity, and the week's devotion has been the adoration of the body of the Lord — the bond of charity, and the worship of the Sacred Heart — the symbol and the source of love. As a feast, it is religion's very own, for religion is charity, and its most appropriate emblem the Sacred Heart. " Charity," says St. Paul, " is patient, charity is kind, charity is not provoked to anger, but beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things," and the Sacred Heart is charity incarnate. It yearns after the sinner as did the father for his prodigal son, and receives him returning with as much joy as though the recovery of that one child were the consummation of all its desires.
