303 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year sees that we are stuck in the dirt of imperfections and do not lay hold of the inspirations sent by Him, and do not strive after more sublime perfection after being prompted by Him so often, He resents it so much that He seems to be angry. If it is scandalous to cause anger in a man, what an evil deed it shall be to irritate God by not obeying His commands! [f.86r] 3. “he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers” (Mt 22:7). O, the cruelty of these people that killed the servants of the Lord who were so kindly inviting them to the banquet! You, my soul, are like them when you resist a divine ordinance, whenever you scorn, disrespect, and turn a deaf ear to so many salutary admonitions, exhortations and sound counsels, by which the eternal King invites you to the everlasting wedding feast. O you miserable one, deicide! Do you not fear the army of the One you spurn? Certainly, He has at hand countless punishments by which He may torment you. Thousands of thousands stand by Him, and thousands of thousands serve Him, and yet you would dare to spurn His invitation to good behavior, to the practice of virtue, to heroic deeds, to the heavenly crown! Ah! Consider whether you are of sound mind. TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Before Holy Communion 1. “there was an official whose son was ill” (Jn 4:46). Behold, my soul, your physician Jesus has opened His pharmacy. Hasten to Him faster than the wind. Like a wounded deer that longs to run to fountains of water131 (cf. Ps 42:1), so you too, hasten to the fountain of salutary medicine, for if this Doctor restores bodily health to absent people and those far away from 131 Cf. Stanislaus Papczyński, The Crucified Orator or The Seven Last Words of Our Lord Jesus Christ explained in as many pious reflections by the Venerable Father John Papczyński, a Polish priest, in: SelectedWorks of St. Stanislaus Papczyński, MarianHeritage—PROMIC, Stockbridge—Warsaw 2021, pp. 729-730 (FifthWord, §§ 26-27). [Hereafter The Crucified Orator will be abbreviated as CO.]
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