Sunday, August 21 : Saint Caesarius of Arles

Pay attention, dear brothers: the holy Scriptures were passed on to us, so to speak, like letters come from our homeland. Our homeland, indeed, is paradise; our forebears are the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles and the martyrs; our fellow countrymen, the angels; our king, Christ. When Adam sinned, we were thrown into the exile, as it were, of this world. But because our king is faithful and merciful, more than we can imagine or express, he deigned to send us the holy Scriptures through the patriarchs and the prophets as the letters of invitation with which he invites us to our eternal and original homeland. (…) Because of his unspeakable kindness, he has invited us to reign with him. In these conditions, what idea do they have of themselves, these servants who do not deign to read the letters which invite us to the happiness of the Kingdom ? (…) “If anyone does not acknowledge this, he is not acknowledged” (1 Cor 14:38). Certainly, the one who neglects to look for God in this world by reading the sacred texts, God in his turn will refuse to admit him to eternal happiness. He should fear that he may find the doors locked, leaving him outside with the foolish virgins (Mt 25:10) and that he might hear: “ I don’t know who you are ; I do not know you ; depart from me, all you evildoers. ” (…) Those who want to be favorably listened to by God must begin by listening to God. How could we have the effrontery to want God to listen to us favorably if we attach so little importance to him that we neglect to read his precepts ?
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team