DELAY IS NOT DENIAL. IT MEANS MORE TIME TO PREPARE.

"Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

"The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

"At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’

"While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.

"Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”  (Matthew 25: 1 - 13).

Our Gospel for today is the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Five foolish and five wise. The bridegroom was delayed in his coming. Both the wise and the foolish Virgins did not know that the bridegroom will be delayed. The wise Virgins brought some extra oil for their lamps. Because the foolish Virgins did not anticipate a delay, they provided no extra oil.

How do you deal with the Delay Factor in your life? The Second Coming of Jesus has been delayed. Most likely than not, the fulfillment of God's precious promise to you will be delayed. What do you do?

There are 106 occurrences of WAIT in the Bible. The message is uniform: There may be delays. Wait for the Lord.  There is an appointed time for the fulfillment. You must wait for this fullness of time.

“For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2: 3 AMP).

"Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you." (Psalm 27: 14 TLB).

Those who waited for the Lord:
Abraham and Sarah, Jacob, David, Elizabeth and Zachary, Simeon and the Prophetess Anna.  St Monica whose feast is tomorrow waited patiently for God for the conversion of her son, Augustine.

The Lord does not delay as human beings consider delays. All His actions are guided by His mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence. God cannot be even one second late for His appointments. God is always on time.

"In this Sacrament I wait for you. So many emphasize that they must wait for Me, and yet I am already present, close to them, and disposed to reveal to them the secrets of My Heart. They forget that it is I who wait for them to come to Me. How often did I say to My disciples, “Come to Me.” They understood, at least most of them did, the intensity of My longing for the company of souls. I would have all souls come to Me and remain with Me." (IN SINU JESU page 94).

Wait for the Lord!

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HAIL HOLY QUEEN, MOTHER OF MERCY. HAIL OUR LIFE, OUR SWEETNESS AND OUR HOPE.

"Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves." (Matthew23: 13.....22).

Monday 22nd August 2022 of the 21st Week of Ordinary Time is the   Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary: "ĐỨC MARIA NỮ VƯƠNG - LỄ NHỚ

Why the Feast of the Queenship of Mary?

#1.  The Father gave us the Mother of His Son Jesus to be our Mother from the Cross. (Cf the Collect of this Feast).

#2. Mary is the Mother of Christ the King of and therefore the Queen Mother. (Bathsheba the mother of Solomon was recognized as Queen mother).

#3.  In the Church's liturgical prayers from ancient times, Mary has been hailed as Hail holy Queen, Queen of Peace, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of all Saints, etc. (See the Litany of Loretto). The Church applies here the ancient maxim: Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi.  This means that the Law of Prayer becomes the Law of Faith. Whatever the Church prays in her Liturgy is automatically the faith of the Church. Whatever is bound on earth by its prayer becomes bound in heaven

#4.  The 5th Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary celebrates the Coronation of Mary as Queen of heaven and earth. The fruit of this mystery is to grow in faith in the powerful intercession of Mary. In order words, Jesus Christ our Lord and King crowned His Mother Queen  so that we can approach her with confidence with all our needs.

The world today is desperately in need of the mercy of God and the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the main reason for the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Lourdes, Knock in Ireland, etc. Mary encourages Christians to pray especially the Holy Rosary.

Here is what Jesus said to the crowds and His disciples in today's Gospel:  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves."

The sharp words of Jesus lead us to reflect on the Power of Example.
Bad example corrupts.
Good example edifies.
There are preachers, teachers and theologians out there who minimize the role of Mary in the economy of salvation.

Do not traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

"Until now, the precious grace of Eucharistic adoration has remained unknown to far too many of My priests. This accounts for the weaknesses, the scandals, the shame, and the falling away of so many. The world has grown cold, and it will become even more cold as the darkness of the Enemy enfolds it and turns to ice the hearts that I consecrated to be for Me hearts of love." (IN SINU JESU page 216).

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WHAT IS HYPOCRISY? PRETENDING TO BE WHAT YOU ARE NOT.  ACTING LIKE A A SAINT WHILE IN REALTY YOU ARE THE OPPOSITE AND HATE SAINTS.

"Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” (Matthew23: 23 - 26).

Tuesday 23rd August 2022 of the 21st Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Rose of Lima. (1586 - 1617). Lima, Peru. Virgin and a Dominican tertiary. Rose admired St Catherine of Sienna from her youth and was deeply inspired by this Doctor of the Church who was a Dominican tertiary also. St Rose of Lima became a model of penitence, prayer and simplicity. St Rose of Lima was canonized less than 50 years after her death in 1671. She became the first native born saint in the Americas.

Our key Scripture for today deals with hypocrisy and lawlessness. We live in a time that seems to be marred by both vices.  How can a Christian deal with temptation of hypocrisy?  Hypocrisy is caused by Pride, one of the Seven Deadly Sins. St Philip Neri teaches that frequent Confession will lead us to truth and humility. The Church teaches that frequent Holy Communion will transform us into the copy image of the Person we receive in the Eucharist.

"Let them come here to remain in adoration before my Son, the Lamb Who was slain. Let them wash themselves in His precious Blood by seeking absolution from all their sins. Let them entrust and consecrate themselves to me as Virgin Bride and Mother. Almighty God will do great things in them and through them. I so desire that Knock should become for all priests a fountain of living water, a place of healing, of comfort, and of renewal.  My hands are ever raised in supplication for my priest sons, and my Heart is ready to receive them here."  (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, February 5th 2008).

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