avoiding the extremes of drowsiness and worries - 34th week saturday 2018

Today on this last day of the liturgical year the Lord points to us two causes which make us less ready to meet him.  They are two extremes.  The first extreme is drowsiness caused by carousing and drunkenness.  Running after pleasure regardless of the consequences. Clinging to our attachments to things causing us to be blinded by greed and by our own selfishness.

Then the second extreme is the anxieties of life, when worries paralyze us in our fears, when we are too discouraged to move and do the good we intend to do.  

And so to avoid these two extremes Jesus advises us to be prayerful.  Be vigilant and pray, he said.  It may seem to many that prayer is such a waste of time for we are just here doing nothing, but it actually helps us avoid these two extremes.  It gives us self-awareness, it helps us see God’s action in our lives.  It helps us discern the evil that constantly stalks even our best intentions.  And prayer helps us to be more trustful and not to be so overly afraid.  

As we end this liturgical year, the church repeats to us a very important Christian attitude and reflex – be prayerful.