FEAST OF ST JOHN PAUL II, PONTIFF.

FEAST OF ST JOHN PAUL II, PONTIFF

"Jesus said to his disciples:

“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.

"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.

"And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.” (Luke 12: 35 - 38).

Tuesday 22nd October 2024 in the 29th week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St John Paul II, Pope. 

St John Paul II lived from 1920 to 2005. He was Polish and first non-Italian Pope in 455 years.

John Paul was beatified on May 1st, 2011 and canonized April 27, 2014. Pope Francis performed both liturgies. 

John Paul was an accomplished writer. He traveled all over the world to promote understanding between nations and between different cultures and religions.  Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Regan contributed to the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

John Paul II wrote many important encyclicals. His enduring legacy is the Catechism of the Catholic Church which he promulgated in 1992.

“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.

"Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival." 

How do we wait for the Master and exercise maximum vigilance? 

Prayer. If you pray and wait, you will not fall asleep. If you watch and pray, you will open the door at once when the Master knocks on the door. 

A word is enough for the wise. 

October is the Holy Rosary Month. 

“The Rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother.” (St Louis Marie de Monfort). 

Say the Holy Rosary every day in October. 

For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:

https://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/09/october-devotion-to-holy-rosary.html?m=1

YOU RICH FOOL!

YOU RICH FOOL! 

"I WILL TEAR DOWN MY BARNS AND BUILD LARGER ONES." "O RICH FOOL. THIS NIGHT, YOU SHALL DIE."

“Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

"Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself,

 ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’

But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”   (Luke 12: 13 - 21).

MONDAY OCTOBER 21st 2024 IN THE 29TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME. 

The Gospel today shows us where prosperity becomes a risk for everlasting life. 

Man's extremity is God's opportunity. Man's prosperity is Satan's opportunity. 

A good example of this maxim in recent history are Poland and Ireland. These two countries were proud to be called Catholic countries. Both countries registered Sunday Mass attendance over 80%. Then both countries were invaded almost simultaneously by western economic imperialism. Both countries succumbed to the lies of Satan. To make a long story short, Catholic Mass and devotional practices were abandoned. Vocations plummeted. The promised worldly prosperity was gone with the wind. 

The Scriptures invite us to make the Kingdom of God our first priority, live one day at a time and trust in God's promised protection and provision. 

"How happy are the poor in spirit:

theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 3).

When the Rich Fool discovers that his business has succeeded beyond his wildest expectations, his instinct is not to donate to the local charities. "I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods." 

Many Church Fathers commenting on this parable see the consequences of unbridled materialism.

The Scriptures teach that "Man does not live on bread alone" and points to the impossibity of a man trying to drag a camel through the tiny eye of a needle. God's promise of protection and provision for man is strong and secure. All things are possible for God. All things are easy for God. 

Do not be the rich fool. "This very night your soul will be demanded of you."

The Eucharist kills the temptation to greed and materialism.

"I am the bread of life, says the Lord; whoever comes to me will not hunger and whoever believes in me will not thirst." (John 6: 35).

October is the Holy Rosary Month. 

"Trust in her [Mary] care for you. Pray her Rosary. Honour her as you have been doing." (IN SINU JESU Thursday, January 31, 2008 Saint John Bosco, Priest). 

"Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us." 

Say the Holy Rosary every day in October. 

For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:

https://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/09/october-devotion-to-holy-rosary.html?m=1