Road One

The first road is broad and smooth, easy to travel, with many comfortable inns, taverns, and other places of beauty and delight. Along this road go great crowds of people on horseback or in carriages, in a hubbub of music and mindless laughter.

One sees a multitude intoxicated by a joy which is simply ephemeral and superficial, for this road leads to a bottomless precipice. lt is the road taken by the world minded, ever seeking material pleasure, boasting a happiness that they do not really possess, and craving insatiably for comfort and pleasure…

They are terrified at the thought of suffering, self-denial, or sacrifice. They have no wish to know anything about the Cross of Christ. They think it is sheer madness. But then it is they who are insane, for they are slaves of envy, gluttony, and sensuality. They end up suffering far more, and only too late do they realize that they have squandered both their earthly and their eternal happiness in exchange for meaningless trifles.

Our Lord has warned us about this. “The man who tries to save his life shall lose it; it is the man who loses his life for my sake who will secure it. How is a man the better for it if he gains the whole world at  the cost of losing his own soul?”

Road Two

The second path goes in a different direction. lt is so steep and narrow that the travellers who take it cannot go on horseback. All who take it must go on foot, perhaps having to zigzag from side to side,but they move steadily on, treading on thorns and briars, picking their way round rocks and boulders.At times their clothing gets torn, and even their flesh. But at the end of this road a garden of paradise awaits them, eternal happiness, Heaven.

This is the way taken by holy people, who humble themselves and who, out of love for ]esus, gladly sacrifice themselves for others. It is the path of those who are not afraid of an uphill climb, who bear the cross lovingly, no matter how heavy it may be, because they know that if they fall under its weight they can still get up and continue their ascent.

Christ is the strength of these travellers, What does it matter that we stumble on the way, if we find in the pain of our fall the energy to pick ourselves up and go on with renewed vigor?

Don’t forget that the saint is not the person who never falls, but rather the one who never fails to get up again, humbly and with a holy stubbornness. If the book of Proverbs says that the just man falls seven times a day, who are we poor creatures, you and I, to be surprised or discouraged by our own weaknesses and falls! We will be able to keep going ahead, if only we seek our fortitude in him who says: “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.”“ Thank you, Lord, because you, and you alone, my God, have always been my strength, my refuge, and my support”.

If you really want to make progress in the interior life, be humble. Turn constantly and confidently to the help of our Lord and of his Blessed Mother, who is your Mother too. No matter how much the still open wound of your latest fall may hurt, embrace the cross once more and calmly, without getting upset, say: “With your help, Lord, I’ll fight so as not to be held back. I’ll respond faithfully to your invitations. I won’t be afraid of steep climbs, nor of the apparent monotony of my daily work, nor of the thistles and loose stones on the way. I know that I am aided by your mercy and that, at the end of the road, I will find eternal happiness, full of joy and love forever and ever.

Road Three

The third road is too is narrow and, like the second, it is both steep and rugged. Those who travel it walk solemnly and regally in the midst of countless hardships. Yet they end up falling over the same terrible precipice that the first road leads to.

This is the path of the hypocrites, people who lack a right intention, who are motivated by false zeal and pervert divine works by mixing them with their own selfish and temporal ambitions. “It is folly to undertake a hard and difficult task just to be admired; to put great effort into keeping God’s commandments with but an earthly reward in mind.

Whoever practises virtue for the sake of some human benefit is like a person who sells off a priceless heirloom for just a few coins. He could have won Heaven, but he is content instead with fleeting praise…That is why they say that the hopes of hypocrites are like a spider’s web: so much effort goes into weaving it, and in the end it is blown away by a puff of the wind of death.

“Sorry,” his guardian angel said, “but you can’t t…ake your wealth with you.” The man implored the angel to intercede with God to see if He might make an exception. The man continued to pray fervently that at least some of his wealth could follow him.

His guardian angel reappeared and informed the man that God had decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him, containing whatever he wanted. The angel continued by saying that he had never heard of such an exception before, but that once every few millennia God would grant very special and unusual favors for certain individuals who had demonstrated great courage and charity on earth, as the rich man certainly had.

Overjoyed, the man had his sons buy him the biggest suitcase on the market, fill it with pure gold bars, and place it beside his bed. Soon afterward the man died and appeared at the gates of heaven to greet St. Peter.

St. Peter, seeing the enormous suitcase, said, “Hold on, you can’t bring that in here!” The man explained that he had permission, and asked him to verify his story with God.

So St. Peter checked and came back saying, “You’re right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I’m supposed to check its contents before letting it through.” He opened the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind.
Baffled, St. Peter looked up at the rich man. “You brought pavement!!

The rich man caried gold but found that heavenly pavements were made of gold

By Vincent Mwangi Njuguna.

• May I be no man’s enemy, and may I be the friend of that which is eternal and abides.
• May I love, seek and attain only that which is good.
• May I wish for all men’s happiness and envy none.
• May I never rejoice in the ill fortune of one who has wronged me. When I have said or done that which is wrong, may I never wait for the rebuke of others, but always rebuke myself until I make amends.
• May I win no victory that harms either me or my opponent.
• May I, to the extent of my power, give all needful help to my friends and to all who are in want.
• May I be able, by gentle and healing words, when visiting those in grief, to soften their pain.
• May I respect myself.
• May I always keep tame that which rages within me.
• May I accustom myself to be gentle and never angry with people because of circumstances.
• May I never discuss who is wicked and what wicked things he has done, but know good men and  follow in their footsteps.

Dear God, guide our country, the land we love and cherish!

Guide our country:
To nurture the ideals of equality and brotherhood;
To provide the opportunities of life for all;
To value and protect the rights of individuals;
To lift up the unfortunate and afflicted;
To honour motherhood and fatherhood;
To build up a sturdy and industrious generation;
To grant justice to all, regardless of caste or creed;
To be strong in battle for the right, magnanimous in victory, and honourable in the establishment of a just and charitable peace;
To follow after righteousness and godliness—that alone exalts a nation.

Amen

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.   Amen.

For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For blue of stream and blue of sky,
Father, we thank Thee.
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father, we thank Thee.

For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank Thee.
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank Thee

For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

I asked for health that I might do greater things.
God gave me infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.
God gave me poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
God gave me weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God gave me life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for,
but everything I hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.”