333 part ii: meditations for more solemn feasts ness of those who do not leave the harbor with a favorable wind; and thus, having let pass the best occasion for sailing, never get another equally good chance. Refrain from such behavior, but hastily sail away from the harbor and undertake the good work to which you are inspired as soon as the divine inspirations are sent upon you. For the grace of the Holy Spirit does not recognize late efforts: it abandons the ravens that are idle and put their work off to the next day; it vomits the lukewarm (cf. Rev 3:16). If the masters of this world highly value an eager servant and despise the lazy one, it is fitting that you be much more eager, you who boast of being a servant of the Immortal King who detests tortoises. He does not put off His graces till tomorrow, so why do you put off your good works till tomorrow? 3. “Watch!” (Mt 25:13). Consider that the King of Heaven is an unrelenting enemy of sleepiness. Hence, when He kept vigil in the Olivet Garden,147 He was so annoyed at the sleepiness of the disciples that with a complaint, or rather a rebuke, He said: “Could you not watch one hour with [M]e?” (Mt 26:40). Nobody would be rebuked for saying that in Peter’s case the reason for denying Christ was his nap in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Eternal Word’s admonition is: “Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation” (Mt 26:41). It is quite obvious that sleep is a father of temptation, while temptation is the mother of sin. Who would doubt that because of sleepiness you either have lost or stand the risk of losing many gifts of God, if you will not keep vigil? Learn, therefore, from the experience of today’s foolish virgins, who because of the sweetness of sleep, lost their chance to see and meet the Bridegroom. [f.102r] 147 The Garden of Gethsemane, which lies at the foot of Mt. Olivet.
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