1 — NEW PROGRAM

Sunday of Septuagesima

Presence of God. — Lord, I come to You with a living desire to learn how to correspond to Your invitations.

Meditation

1 — The time of Septuagesima is somewhat like the vestibule of Lent, the classic time of spiritual reform; therefore today the liturgy sets before us the program of what we must do to set out toward a renewed and serious conversion, so as then to rise again with Christ at the coming Easter. The Collect of the Mass, reminding us that we are sinners, invites us to sentiments of deep humility: “while we are justly afflicted for our sins, may Your mercy free us from them.” The first step toward conversion is always to acknowledge humbly that we need it. The lukewarm must become fervent, the fervent must reach perfection, the perfect must continue toward the heroism of virtue. Who can say he has no progress to make in virtue, in holiness? Every new progress brings about a new conversion to God, conversio ad Deum. To this continual spiritual work St. Paul urges us in his Epistle (I Cor. 9, 24-27; 10, 1-5): to attain holiness, the glory of heaven, we must not grow weary of running and fighting, like athletes who struggle and toil in the arena “to obtain a corruptible crown; but we [an] incorruptible. I therefore also — says the Apostle — run in the race... I do my best, not as one striking the air; but I chastise my body and bring it into subjection.” Here is the first point of the program: generous struggle to conquer ourselves, to conquer evil and gain the good; denial of the body by physical mortification. The prize is only for those who toil and struggle: let us run, then, we too, in such a way as to make the prize our own.

2 — The Gospel (Mt. 20, 1-16) presents the second part of the program of this liturgical season: not to stand idle, but to work assiduously in the Lord’s vineyard. The first vineyard we must cultivate is our own soul; God comes to meet us with His grace, but He does not wish to sanctify us alone: He awaits our collaboration. On this Sunday the great call to holiness is renewed for every soul; God in His love goes in search of His dissipated and idle children and gently reproves them: Why are you standing here doing nothing? “God — says St. Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi — calls at various hours, because varied are the states of creatures, and in this variety one sees very well the greatness of God and His goodness, who never fails — whatever time and state we are in — to call us with His divine inspirations.” Happy are those who from their youth have heard and followed the divine invitation! But every hour belongs to God, and God passes and calls even to the last hour. What comfort, and at the same time what an urging, to answer at last the Lord’s call! “Oh, that today you would hear His voice! Harden not your hearts” (Ps. 94, 7-8).

Besides the vineyard of our own soul, we must consider the vineyard of the Church where so many souls are waiting to be won for Christ. No one can consider himself excused from thinking of the good of others; however humble our place in the Mystical Body of Christ, we are all His members and therefore each of us must cooperate in the good of the others. For all there is the possibility of effective apostolic action through example, prayer, and sacrifice. If up to now we have done little, let us hear today Jesus’ word: “Go you also into My vineyard.” Let us go and generously embrace the work the Lord places before us: nothing must seem too burdensome to us when it is a question of winning souls for Him.

Colloquy

Bless, O Lord, this new liturgical period which begins today, and grant that, by entering into its spirit, I may with Your help dispose myself for a serious reform of my spiritual life. Grant me sincere humility so that I may recognize my miseries, so that I may know how to see myself as I am before You, without letting myself be deceived by the false light that comes from my self-love and tries to make me believe I am better than I am. If before You I wish to consider my misery, it is not, however, to become discouraged. “In my distresses I call upon You, my God; and You, from Your holy temple, always hear my prayer... You are my strength, O Lord, my support, my refuge, my deliverer. You are my help in time of tribulation; he who knows You hopes in You, because You do not abandon those who seek You. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord, Lord hear my voice. If You mark iniquities, O Lord, who can stand? But with You there is mercy, and because of Your law I trust in You, O Lord!” (cf. Mass of the day).

Infuse in me, O Jesus, new strength to take up again with greater vigor the race that must lead me to the conquest of the incorruptible crown of holiness. “And since nature resists what is good, I promise You to declare continual war on myself; the weapons for combat will be: prayer, presence of God, and silence. But, O my Love, You already know how incapable I am of wielding these weapons. Nevertheless, I will arm myself with the weapons of supreme confidence in You, patience, humility, and conformity to Your divine will, joined to utmost diligence... But who will give me help to fight in so continual a war against so many adversaries that fight against me? Ah, I see it clearly, that You, my God, declare Yourself my Captain and, raising the standard of Your Cross, lovingly say to me: — Come after Me and do not fear” (T.M. Sp. pp. 323-324).

O my Lord, I no longer want to resist Your invitation. Grant that today may be for me the decisive hour in which I answer Your call with full generosity and perseverance. You call me and I come: I come to Your vineyard, O Lord, but if You do not accompany me and sustain me in the work, I shall succeed in nothing. You who call me, help me to do what You ask of me.