A sermon

Abstract

The portion of the Holy Scriptures which I am about to read, is found in the 20th chapter of St. Matthew, beginning with the 20th verse: " Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. " Who said to her : What wilt thou ? She said to him : Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left, in Thy kingdom. "And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: we can. "He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink, but to sit on My right or My left hand, is not Mine to give you, but to them for whom it is prepared by My Father. " And the ten hearing it, were moved with indignation against the two brethren. " But Jesus called them to him, and said : You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that are the greater exercise power upon them. "It shall not be so among you, but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister. " And he that will be first among you, shall be your servant. " Even as the Son of Man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a redemption for many."

It is observed, Christian brethren, as something remarkable, that in all the records which the inspired writers have left us, of the life and the teachings of the Son of God upon earth, there appears to be scarcely one direct allusion to the outward condition of that fallen race, which He came to raise and to redeem. Questions of government - questions of social right would seem to have been more urgent then than they are now; and yet we cannot find one solitary principle or precept, having the amelioration of these as the direct object of our Saviour. He did not appear surrounded with the pomp and the pretension of a reformer... [Excerpt]