“A certain man gave a great supper and invited many. ... they began all at once to be excused. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a farm, I must go out and see it’. ... another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them’. ... another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore, I cannot come’.” (Lk 14:16-20)
“The master of the house being angry said to his servant, ‘Bring in the poor and the blind that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’” (Lk 14:21-4)
Let us consider in this parable, the type of the calling to the Faith of Jew and Gentile, the three great obstacles which, according to our Lord, prevent men from partaking of the celestial banquet: eternal salvation.
‘I have bought a farm; hold me excused.’ The schemes for advancement, pride, and pretence, by which we wish to earn the admiration of men, are the first obstacle to salvation. How could God reward those who have done nothing for him, who have sought in all things their own glory at the expense of what is due to him?
Let us thank God for having shown us our true interests. Let us try to undeceive the victims of pride when an occasion offers, and show them how lowly it is to bow before the opinion of men.
‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them; please accept my regrets.’ Jesus points out the second obstacle to salvation -- avarice or a greed for riches. How can the avaricious man think of heaven? His whole life is spent in finding out ways of amassing his wealth, as if he were to live forever in this world.
How blessed are we in the inspiration for overcoming this obstacle to salvation by our detachment from material goods which brings us such peace of heart and the pledge of imperishable riches in heaven!
How can we show our gratitude towards God? By exercising our zeal, by trying to show men who are avaricious the vanity and deceit of the pursuit and possession of the fleeting things of earth. By striving to lead their desires and their activity towards the unchangeable and unspeakable possessions of heaven.
‘I have married a wife, and therefore, I cannot come.’ In showing this third obstacle to salvation, Jesus does not condemn marriage; but he teaches that attraction to sensual pleasures leads very rapidly to the excess of impurity. This vice so defiles the soul. The thought of heaven, even the ‘invitation’ to seek it repels us.
Let us obey our loving Lord’s teaching. Pray that sensuality may never overcome us. Earnestly beg that he bless all we do to convert victims of the spirit of impurity.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp669-71
God loves the cheerful giver
We must make demands on ourselves in our daily lives. In this way we will not go about inventing false problems and ingenious needs which are prompted by conceit, capriciousness, and a lazy approach to life. We must be striding towards God at a fast pace, carrying no deadweights which might hinder our progress.
Since poverty of the spirit does not consist in not having things but rather in being truly detached from what we have, we need to be vigilant so as not to be deceived by our imagination into thinking we can’t survive unless we have certain things.
As St Augustine puts it: Seek what suffices, what is enough; and don’t desire more. Whatever is beyond that, produces anxiety not relief; weigh you down instead of lifting you up. (“Sermon LXXXV”, 6 [PL 38, 523])
True detachment leads us to be very generous with God and with our fellow men. It makes us resourceful and ready to spend ourselves in helping the needy.
A Christian cannot be content with a job that only allows him to earn enough for himself and his family. He will be big-hearted enough to give others a helping hand both out of charity and as a matter of justice, in the manner described by St Paul:
“Macedonia and Achaia have thought fit to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service in material things.” (Rom 15:26-7)
Don’t be mean and grudging with people who, without counting the cost, have given of their all, everything they have, for your sake. Just ask yourselves, how much does it cost you, in financial terms as well, to be Christians?
Above all, don’t forget, “God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” (2 Cor 9:7-8)
Let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to enable us, like her, to keep all these things in our minds and ponder over them in our hearts (cf Lk 2:19).
Ref: cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 125
Meditations on the Litany of Loreto
‘Comfortress of the afflicted’ -- St Antoninus says, ‘No saint can be found who compassionates us in our miseries as does this most tender Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary’. And as the miseries which afflict us the most are disorders of the soul, Blessed Henry Suso calls Mary ‘the most faithful comfortress of sinners’.
We need only show Mary the wounds of our souls, and she immediately helps us by her prayers, and consoles us. Richard St Victor writes, her compassion anticipates our wants, and she relieves us before we invoke her.
Let us say with St Bonaventure: ‘O Mary, console us always, but especially at the hour of our death: come at that last hour and receive our souls, and present them thyself to thy Son, who will judge us.’
Ref: “The Glories of Mary.” In “Documentation Service”, V:327
Frivolity -- “You lack the maturity and composure appropriate for those who make their way through this life with the certainty of an ideal, of a goal. Ask the Blessed Virgin to teach you how to praise God with your whole heart, without distractions of any kind.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 553)
Dedication of Our Lady of Victory, near Senlis, in the year 1225, by Guarin, Bishop of Senlis, and Chancellor of France. This abbey was built by Philip Augustus, in thanksgiving for the victory which he gained over the Emperor Otho IV, at Bouvines, in the year 214. — Carta Tabularis de Victoria. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
‘Notre Dame des Victoires’ / Victories. Senlis, France. 1225. Basilica in Paris. Church in Quebec. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm).
Our Lady of Victory, near Senlis, France (1225)(www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html).
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