Feast of St Paul of the Cross.

“Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks." (Luke 12: 35 - 36).

Tuesday 20th October 2020, 29th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Paul of the Cross. (1694 - 1775). Italian. Priest, mystic, Founder of the Passionists. The charism of St Paul of the Cross is a profound understanding of the mystery of the Cross and translating this understanding into a plan of life.

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus urges His followers to be ready and prepared for His Second and sudden Coming. That Coming will most likely be delayed. The hint to this is many in the Gospels. The warning is clear. Do not be asleep and foolish. Do not think: The Lord has not returned for 2000 years. We have more than sufficient time to put our houses in order before Jesus returns.

How do we gird our loins and light our lamps to await our master’s return? The answer is Prayer. Prayer is the means of vigilance. Prayer is a vital necessity for this reason and others. In His Agony in the Garden, Jesus told His disciples "Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation." Why? Because while their spirit is willing, experience shows that their flesh will succeed in dragging down their spirit. The remedy is: Prayer. Prayer. Prayer.

St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Founder of the Redemptorists and Doctor of the Church has this to say on Prayer:
"Were you to ask what are the means of overcoming temptations, I would answer: The first means is prayer; the second is prayer; the third is prayer; and should you ask me a thousand times, I would repeat the same." (St Alphonsus Liguori).

Jesus declared blessed all those who are vigilant and wait for Him. Their reward will be huge and unbelievable.

"Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them." (Luke 12: 37).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com