The Feast of St Padre Pio, a Stigmatist and a man of Prayer.

"The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:
Thus says the Lord of hosts: This people says: “The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.”.... Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
(Haggai 1: 1...8.)

Thursday 23rd September 2021, 25th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Pio Pietrechina better known as Padre Pio. (1887 - 1968). Italian Capuchin Priest. Stigmatist. A highly gifted confessor and counseling guru. Padre Pio died and was canonized in 2002 in the lifetime of many people reading this.

The Lord God chides the People of Israel through the Prophet Haggai for putting God's Kingdom #2 and their welfare #1. The consequences for doing this are inescapable:

"Now thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it."

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches a simple way out of this anomaly:

"Seek first [Be concerned above all else with] God’s kingdom and ·what God wants [his righteousness]. Then all ·your other needs will be met as well [these things will be given to you]." (Matthew 6: 33 EXB).

Make God's Law and Kingdom #1 priority in everything.

"Consider your ways! Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and receive my glory, says the Lord."

Then, it shall be well with you in everything.

"My way is one of gentleness, of mercy, and of compassion. I offer My Cross to souls, but I never impose it, and when a soul begins to say “Yes” to the sweet and terrible exigencies of My love, I fit My Cross to her shoulders, and then help her to carry it step by step, increasing its weight only as that soul grows in love and in the fortitude that comes from the Holy Spirit." (IN SINU JESU, September 23, 2011, Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina).

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