Jesus invites each of you to come to Him Why will any of you delay and put off till tomorrow that giving of the heart to God which he calls for. You are conscious of sin, and doubtless have sorrows. For you is that invitation, Come to me, all you that labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you. And that promise, him that cometh to me I will not cast out. I desire not the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God, return ye and live. There is access to God now, by Christ; there may not always be; the five foolish virgins who taking their lamps, did not take oil with them, were shut out of the marriage. You call yourself a Catholic, and have the lamp of profession. Have you also the oil of the Holy Spirit's grace? Only Christ can give that to you, and if you are keeping back your heart from Him, through unbelief, love of this world and its empty pleasures, carelessness, sloth, a vain and deceptive purpose of being a better Christian by and by, or a yielding to some besetting temptation, you are holding your lamp without the oil that keeps its light alive. Take heed and do not longer grieve that heart of tender love which woos you to be wise unto salvation. Take with you words, and return to the Lord, and say to him: take away all iniquity and receive the good, and we will render the calves of our lips: the sacrifice of hearty prayer and praise. We are made partakers of Christ: yet so, if we hold the beginning of His substance, the life of grace within our souls, firm unto the end.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp