5 i'3 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XV. 31. And he saidunto him, Son, thou arteverwith me, and allthatI have isthine. 32. Itwas meet thatwe should make merry,and be glad: forthisthy brotherwas dead,and isalive again; and was lost,and isfound. BEDE. While theScribesand Phariseeswere murmuring aboutHis receivingsinners,our Saviourput threeparables tothem successively.In the two firstHe hintsat thejoy He haswiththeangelsinthesalvationofpenitents.But in thethirdHe notonlydeclaresHis own joyand thatof His angels,but He alsoblamesthe murmurings of thosewho were envious.For He says,Now hiselderson was in the Aug. field.AUG. The eldersou is the peopleof Israel,notu 1sup'indeedgone intoa distantcountry,yet not in the house, butinthefield,thatis,inthepaternalwealthoftheLaw and theProphets,choosingtowork earthlythings. But coming fromthefieldhe began to draw nigh to the house,thatis, thelabourofhisservileworksbeingcondemnedby thesame Scriptures,he was lookingupon the libertyof the Church. Whence itfollows;And as he came and drew nightothe house,he heardmusicand dancing; thatis,men filledwith theHoly Spirit,with harmoniousvoicespreachingtheGos pel. Itfollows,And he calledoneoftheservants,fyc.thatis, he takesone of theprophetsto read,and as he searchesin it,asksina manner,why arethosefeastscelebratedinthe Church at which he findshimselfpresent? His Father's servant,the prophet,answershim. For itfollows; And he saiduntohim, Thy brotheris come,fyc. As ifhe should say,Thy brotherwas in the farthestpartsof theearth,but hence the greaterrejoicingof thosewho singa new song, Is.42,10.becauseHis praiseisfrom theend of theearth; and forhis sakewho was afaroff,was slaintheMan who knows how to SeeIsa.bearourinfirmities.fortheywho havenotbeen toldofHim S3, +; , ,,.62,i5. naveseenHim. AMBROSE. But theyoungerson,thatistheGentilepeople, isenviedby Israelas theelderbrother,the privilegeofhis Father'sblessing.Which the Jews did becauseChristsat down to meat withthe Gentiles,as itfollows;And hewas angry,and wouldnotgo in,fyc.