The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-10-04
FATHER BURKE.
ONE OF HIS GREATEST SERMONS.
What Is Education T.
IBnston Pilot.l

Boston Pilot.
Father Burke was at Waterside, County
Londonderry, on Sunday, August 80. and
there delivered the following magnificent
sermon, the proceeds of which were devoted
to the erection and completion of the Wa
terside Catholic Schools.
"At that time Josus said TO HIS disciples No man
can for either he viii hate the one
and love the other or he will sustain tho one and
Dearly Bclored Brethren our
Lord, in the Gospel which have just read
for you, establishes the modes in which we
are bound to form our desires. and to shape
- our actions and our lives. He tells us what
is to be the FIRST object Of our labors-
"Seek first the kingdom of God" He says
DO not be like the heatbens who seek the
fruits of this world only, and go on, not
thinking of God or His interests, and losing
all that can he thought highest and best.
He says-I tell you to seek first the king
dom of God-lay your hands upon the
knowledge of God-make that your own,
and when you have done that there is
God above who will do all things for you.
Behold then, the order which our Divine
Lord has established. And t..w, my dearly
beloved, ir becomes my duty, and my
privilege, To invite your attention to the
Kingdom of God, and to put before you
clearly, and ask you to consider its inter-
ests, and make it the object not alone of
your CIV s.ian study, but the object of
your mnnlfcent charity. And remember
that Almighty God will not forget that he
who gives makes the first step towards the
Kingdom of God.
FOR WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GoD7
That is precisely the object for which you
are assembled here to-day. Why am /
before yoa now 2 To plead the cause of the
church and the schools of this parish, and
to call upon you, out of your generosity, to
contribute for the education of children,
and for the glory of God. The pastor of
this parish asks you to enable him to build
schools; and when he has succeeded in
that undertaking, to assist him also in i'm
proving this church. And lay down this
principle, that these schools and the church
are those things which God meant when he
said, Seek first the Kingdom of God, and
all things else shall be added unto you"
For the Scriptures emphatically tell us
came down into this world was to found
His own Kingdom. He is perpetually
speaking of that kingdom-He loves to
dwell upon it in His thoughts and in His
words-He is constantly aliuding to !" My
Kingdom" The Kingdom of God is the
main subject of Christ's discourses and in
structionss He compares it to one thing
and to another. He compares 1t to q build
ing, not in valley, but on q mountain,
that every man might behold it. Again
the Kingdom of God is hkened to q candle
that is not hidden, but stuck in a candle
stick and placed on table, that it may
cast light all around. And again 1t is
likened to a net that is cast into the sea,
and takes fish of all kinds. Christ once
made use of this singular expression,
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU"
And here we have ample reason and suffi-
cieut grounds to establish and to know
clearly what is the kingdom of God. We
are to study this kingdom, and we are to
love it; and when We build it up, and have
ceeded. in all this, we have only done
almost onr duty. For Christ says, Seek
first the Kingdom of God, and He will add
the rest for you. We have, then, the words
of Christ telling us that the Kingdom of
God means the place where God Himself
reigns, aid where He holds dominion, and
where He dwells. In the heart of man God
may be really AID truly present; but He
must be there regnipg and governing, for
everything there must be fitted for His
dwelling. Again, we have it laid down
that the Kingdom of God mus: be clear and
manifest, must be easily seen by all men,
for He compares ii to a city not in valley,
but on q mountain, that all men might ace
1t. He compares it to the light not low,
but in the -candiestiek. Therefore the
Kingdom of God must be manifest, and it
muat be within you, that it must be visible,
and that the throne where God HimRelt
wishes tn reign and live is the heart of man
The Kingdom is within you-you need
not go out of yourself to discover tit is
in your hearts; but even there it must be
visible, it must be manifest. And Jesus
Christ must be there, too. This is clear.
BUT WHERE ELSE IS THIS KINGDOM OF Gop
FoUNpf
It is found in the schools and in the
churches where the truth of God is taught
1t is found in the schools where the child is
brought in, taught, reared, and educated
and in that way which the Catholic Church
alone can educate and instruct. But the
kingdom of God also dweils in our affairs,
and in our tabernacles, where he dwells.
And wherever he dwells, there dwells the
knowledge-the kingdom-of God. Let us
see if these two principles are true. Dearly
beloved, what is the school for, and for
what is the Church For what purpose is
the schooiheuse built7 For what object is
it eudowed7 What benefit for God does it
dof 1t is huilt and endowed for the pur-
pose OF Catholic education. for is not Ca
tholic teaching that ia carried on there II