We will know God 

to the extent we are 

set free from ourselves. 

His plan over 

your plan needs wants,

hopes and desires. 

DECIDE TO TRUST

We will know God 

to the extent we are 

set free from ourselves. 

His plan over 

your plan needs wants,

hopes and desires. 

DECIDE TO TRUST

COULD YOU BE MORE READY?

"The reign of God can be likened to ten bridesmaids  who took their torches and went out to welcome the groom." -Matthew 25:1

The five foolish virgins may not have been any more  foolish than most people. They had enough oil in their torches if the  bridegroom came at the time expected. Even the wise virgins thought that if the  groom came very late, the foolish virgins might have time to go and buy some  more oil (Mt 25:9). Furthermore, the foolish virgins presumed the bridegroom  would let them in late if they did not get back in time (Mt 25:11).

The five foolish virgins made three tragically  erroneous assumptions. The first was that they thought they were sufficiently  ready. Do you think you are ready enough for Christ's final coming or your  death? If you could be more ready, should you be more ready? The second was  that the five foolish virgins thought they could get ready at the last minute.  This will not be possible at Jesus' coming or in the case of our sudden death.  The last was that they thought the bridegroom might say to them: "Better late  than never." In fact, he said: "If you're late, then never will you enter."  Some people think no one goes to hell. If they are wrong, they will in the end  be very wrong and much too late to change.

Are you as ready as you can be? Are you ready for  Jesus' return, your death, and abundant life today? Are you wise enough?

Prayer: Father, I want to be as ready as possible.

COULD YOU BE MORE READY?

"The reign of God can be likened to ten bridesmaids  who took their torches and went out to welcome the groom." -Matthew 25:1

The five foolish virgins may not have been any more  foolish than most people. They had enough oil in their torches if the  bridegroom came at the time expected. Even the wise virgins thought that if the  groom came very late, the foolish virgins might have time to go and buy some  more oil (Mt 25:9). Furthermore, the foolish virgins presumed the bridegroom  would let them in late if they did not get back in time (Mt 25:11).

The five foolish virgins made three tragically  erroneous assumptions. The first was that they thought they were sufficiently  ready. Do you think you are ready enough for Christ's final coming or your  death? If you could be more ready, should you be more ready? The second was  that the five foolish virgins thought they could get ready at the last minute.  This will not be possible at Jesus' coming or in the case of our sudden death.  The last was that they thought the bridegroom might say to them: "Better late  than never." In fact, he said: "If you're late, then never will you enter."  Some people think no one goes to hell. If they are wrong, they will in the end  be very wrong and much too late to change.

Are you as ready as you can be? Are you ready for  Jesus' return, your death, and abundant life today? Are you wise enough?

Prayer: Father, I want to be as ready as possible.

Petition: Lord, make me long for and strive to enter the kingdom of heaven.
 

1. A Severe Oil Shortage: The Gospel invites us to have oil for our lamps, that is, to be always ready for the coming of the Lord. He appears in moments and ways we do not expect and at all times throughout our day. The foolish virgins failed to anticipate when and how the Lord would come to them, and they were not prepared. So often we, too, get caught up in a thousand affairs and worries, and we can miss what is essential. We miss the presence of Christ in the people around us, in the circumstances in which we are living. Sometimes, Christ comes to us through some sacrifice or suffering; but we do not recognize him in it, and we reject it. We need to strengthen our faith and see how the Lord may appear in our lives.
 

2. The Door Closes: Over and over in the New Testament, Jesus makes clear that there is a real possibility some people, due to their own choices, may not be saved. The most terrible thing that could happen to any person would be to hear those words from the Lord who created us and died to save us: “I do not know you.” The Lord takes our freedom to choose very seriously. He never forces our will. He never imposes himself on us. Rather he invites us to make a free response of love and obedience to him and the way of life he taught us. We must choose to remain steadfast in the way of Christian life. God cannot save us without our cooperation.
 

3. Stay Awake: Saint Augustine said, “Beware of the grace of God that passes and does not return.” We need to perceive God’s presence in the little things of each day and never let the opportunity to love and serve him pass us by. Our faith must be ready and watching for him. If we take him for granted, or presume that we are already saved, we can miss our chance to be with him.
 

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, thank you for teaching us so clearly about the seriousness of our choices. How terrible it would be to opt for death instead of eternal life with you! I want to choose you and your ways, but I am weak. Make me watch and wait always, ready to see you in all things and do your will.

Petition: Lord, make me long for and strive to enter the kingdom of heaven.
 

1. A Severe Oil Shortage: The Gospel invites us to have oil for our lamps, that is, to be always ready for the coming of the Lord. He appears in moments and ways we do not expect and at all times throughout our day. The foolish virgins failed to anticipate when and how the Lord would come to them, and they were not prepared. So often we, too, get caught up in a thousand affairs and worries, and we can miss what is essential. We miss the presence of Christ in the people around us, in the circumstances in which we are living. Sometimes, Christ comes to us through some sacrifice or suffering; but we do not recognize him in it, and we reject it. We need to strengthen our faith and see how the Lord may appear in our lives.
 

2. The Door Closes: Over and over in the New Testament, Jesus makes clear that there is a real possibility some people, due to their own choices, may not be saved. The most terrible thing that could happen to any person would be to hear those words from the Lord who created us and died to save us: “I do not know you.” The Lord takes our freedom to choose very seriously. He never forces our will. He never imposes himself on us. Rather he invites us to make a free response of love and obedience to him and the way of life he taught us. We must choose to remain steadfast in the way of Christian life. God cannot save us without our cooperation.
 

3. Stay Awake: Saint Augustine said, “Beware of the grace of God that passes and does not return.” We need to perceive God’s presence in the little things of each day and never let the opportunity to love and serve him pass us by. Our faith must be ready and watching for him. If we take him for granted, or presume that we are already saved, we can miss our chance to be with him.
 

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, thank you for teaching us so clearly about the seriousness of our choices. How terrible it would be to opt for death instead of eternal life with you! I want to choose you and your ways, but I am weak. Make me watch and wait always, ready to see you in all things and do your will.

From a commentary on Joel by St Jerome, priest

Return to me

Return to me with all your heart and show a spirit of repentance with fasting, weeping and mourning; so that while you fast now, later you may be satisfied, while you weep now, later you may laugh, while you mourn now, you may some day enjoy consolation. It is customary for those in sorrow or adversity to tear their garments. The gospel records that the high priest did this to exaggerate the charge against our Lord and Saviour; and we read that Paul and Barnabas did so when they heard words of blasphemy. I bid you not to tear your garments but rather to rend your hearts which are laden with sin. Like wine skins, unless they have been cut open, they will burst of their own accord. After you have done this, return to the Lord your God, from whom you had been alienated by your sins. Do not despair of his mercy, no matter how great your sins, for great mercy will take away great sins.

  For the Lord is gracious and merciful and prefers the conversion of a sinner rather than his death. Patient and generous in his mercy, he does not give in to human impatience but is willing to wait a long time for our repentance. So extraordinary is the Lord’s mercy in the face of evil, that if we do penance for our sins, he regrets his own threat and does not carry out against us the sanctions he had threatened. So by the changing of our attitude, he himself is changed. But in this passage we should interpret “evil” to mean, not the opposite of virtue, but affliction, as we read in another place: Sufficient for the day are its own evils. And, again: If there is evil in the city, God did not create it.

  In like manner, given all that we have said above – that God is kind and merciful, patient, generous with his forgiveness, and extraordinary in his mercy towards evil – lest the magnitude of his clemency make us lax and negligent, he adds this word through his prophet: Who knows whether he will not turn and repent and leave behind him a blessing? In other words, he says: “I exhort you to repentance, because it is my duty, and I know that God is inexhaustibly merciful, as David says: Have mercy on me, God, according to your great mercy, and in the depths of your compassion, blot out all my iniquities. But since we cannot know the depth of the riches and of the wisdom and knowledge of God, I will temper my statement, expressing a wish rather than taking anything for granted, and I will say: Who knows whether he will not turn and repent?” Since he says, Who, it must be understood that it is impossible or difficult to know for sure.

  To these words the prophet adds: Offerings and tribulations for the Lord our God. What he is saying to us in other words is that, God having blessed us and forgiven us our sins, we will then be able to offer sacrifice to God.