Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 429
Lectionary: 429
Brothers and
sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God–
and as you are conducting yourselves–
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
This is the will of God, your holiness:
that you refrain from immorality,
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself
in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion
as do the Gentiles who do not know God;
not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,
for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not a human being but God,
who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God–
and as you are conducting yourselves–
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
This is the will of God, your holiness:
that you refrain from immorality,
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself
in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion
as do the Gentiles who do not know God;
not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,
for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not a human being but God,
who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Responsorial PsalmPS 97:1 AND 2B, 5-6, 10, 11-12
R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
GospelMT 25:1-13
Jesus told his
disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Meditation: "The
foolish will miss heaven’s wedding feast"
Are you missing out
on what's most important in life? Being unprepared can lead to unnecessary
trouble and even disaster! What good is a life-jacket left on the shore when
the boat is sinking? Jesus’story of ten single ladies waiting for a wedding
procession in the middle of the night seems strange to most westerners today.
But Jesus' audience knew all too well how easily this could happen to them.
Wedding customs in ancient Palestine required extra vigilance and preparation
for everyone involved. (Some near eastern villages still follow this custom.)
The bride and groom did not go away for their honeymoon, but celebrated for a
whole week with their family and friends. It was the custom for the groom, in
company with his friends, to come at his discretion and get his bride and bring
her to their new home. They would take the longest route possible so that many
villagers along the way could join in the wedding procession. Once they arrived
and closed the doors, no one else could be admitted. If the groom decided to
come and bring his bride at night, then lights were required by necessity to
guide the travelers through the dark and narrow streets. No one was allowed on
the village streets at night without a lamp! To show up for a wedding party
without proper attire and travel arrangements is like trying to get into a
special event today that requires a prearranged permit or reservation. You just
don’t get in without the proper pass. Can you imagine the frustration travelers
might experience when going abroad and finding out that they can’t get into
some country because they dont have the right visa or a valid passport.Jesus warns us that there are consequences for being unprepared. There are certain things you cannot obtain at the last moment. For example, students cannot prepare for their exams when the day of testing is already upon them. A person cannot get the right kind of character, strength, and skill required for a task at hand unless they already possess it, such as a captain with courage and nautical skills who must steer a ship through a dangerous storm at sea. When the Lord Jesus comes to lead you to his heavenly banquet will you be ready to hear his voice and follow? Our eternal welfare depends on our hearing, and many have trained themselves to not hear. We will not be prepared to meet the Lord, face to face, when he calls us on the day of judgment, unless we listen to him today. The Lord invites us to feast at his heavenly banquet table. Are you ready?
“Lord Jesus, make me vigilant and attentive to your voice that I may heed your call at all times. May I find joy in your presence and delight in doing your will.”
www.dailyscripture.net
 Ready or Not! |
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Friday of the
Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
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Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and
went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were
wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was
long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was
a cry, ´Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!´ Then all those virgins
got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ´Give us
some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.´ But the wise ones replied,
´No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants
and buy some for yourselves.´ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom
came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the
door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ´Lord, Lord,
open the door for us!´ But he said in reply, ´Amen, I say to you, I do not
know you.´ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come to you again in prayer. Even
though I cannot see you, I know through faith that you are present in my
life. I hope in your promise to be with me. I love you, and I know you love
me. Accept this prayer as a token of my love.
Petition: Lord, make me long for and strive to enter
the kingdom of heaven.
1. A Severe Oil Shortage: The Gospel invites us to have oil for our
lamps, that is, to be always ready for the coming of the Lord. He appears in
moments and ways we do not expect and at all times throughout our day. The
foolish virgins failed to anticipate when and how the Lord would come to
them, and they were not prepared. So often we, too, get caught up in a
thousand affairs and worries, and we can miss what is essential. We miss the
presence of Christ in the people around us, in the circumstances in which we
are living. Sometimes, Christ comes to us through some sacrifice or
suffering; but we do not recognize him in it, and we reject it. We need to
strengthen our faith and see how the Lord may appear in our lives.
2. The Door Closes: Over and over in the New Testament, Jesus
makes clear that there is a real possibility some people, due to their own
choices, may not be saved. The most terrible thing that could happen to any
person would be to hear those words from the Lord who created us and died to
save us: “I do not know you.” The Lord takes our freedom to choose very
seriously. He never forces our will. He never imposes himself on us. Rather
he invites us to make a free response of love and obedience to him and the
way of life he taught us. We must choose to remain steadfast in the way of
the Christian life. God cannot save us without our cooperation.
3. Stay Awake: Saint Augustine said, “Beware of
the grace of God that passes and does not return.” We need to perceive God’s
presence in the little things of each day and never let the opportunity to
love and serve him pass us by. Our faith must be ready and watching for him.
If we take him for granted, or presume that we are already saved, we can miss
our chance to be with him.
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, thank you for teaching us so clearly
about the seriousness of our choices. How terrible it would be to opt for
death instead of eternal life with you! I want to choose you and your ways,
but I am weak. Make me watch and wait always, ready to see you in all things
and do your will.
Resolution: I will actively look for signs of Christ in
others today.
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
MATTHEW 25:1-13
(1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Psalm 97)
KEY VERSE: "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (v 13).
READING: Jesus told his followers a parable about the necessity of being prepared for his final coming. He depicted Christians as bridesmaids who were either vigilant or unprepared for the arrival of the "bridegroom" who was Christ. The wise maidens filled their lamps with oil in eager anticipation of their master's return, while the foolish ones took no oil with them. The refusal of the wise to help the foolish was not held up as a model for right behavior. Jesus himself had passionate regard for the weak, the sick, the wounded, the strayed, and the lost. The point of this parable was vigilance. Jesus was continually telling people to wake up and to stay awake.Obtaining the oil of sanctity was the responsibility of each individual. No one could borrow the spiritual wealth that others had acquired. Jesus said that he would welcome the faithful servants, but those who foolishly left these matters to the last would be excluded from the wedding feast in God's kingdom.
REFLECTING: Am I wise or foolish in my service to the Lord?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, fill me with your grace so that I may be prepared to meet you when you come in glory.
www.daily-word-of-life.com
August 30
St. Jeanne Jugan
(1792-1879)
Born in
northern France during the French Revolution—a time when congregations of women
and men religious were being suppressed by the national government, Jeanne
would eventually be highly praised in the French academy for her community's
compassionate care of elderly poor people.
When
Jeanne was three and a half years old, her father, a fisherman, was lost at
sea. Her widowed mother was hard pressed to raise her eight children (four died
young) alone. At the age of 15 or 16, Jeanne became a kitchen maid for a family
that not only cared for its own members, but also served poor, elderly people
nearby. Ten years later, Jeanne became a nurse at the hospital in Le Rosais.
Soon thereafter she joined a third order group founded by St. John Eudes (August
19).
After six
years she became a servant and friend of a woman she met through the third
order. They prayed, visited the poor and taught catechism to children. After
her friend's death, Jeanne and two other women continued a similar life in the
city of Saint-Sevran. In 1839, they brought in their first permanent guest.
They began an association, received more members and more guests. Mother Marie
of the Cross, as Jeanne was now known, founded six more houses for the elderly
by the end of 1849, all staffed by members of her association—the Little
Sisters of the Poor. By 1853 the association numbered 500 and had houses as far
away as England.
Abbé Le
Pailleur, a chaplain, had prevented Jeanne's reelection as superior in 1843;
nine year later, he had her assigned to duties within the congregation, but
would not allow her to be recognized as its founder. He was removed from office
by the Holy See in 1890.
By the
time Pope Leo XIII gave her final approval to the community's constitutions in
1879, there were 2,400 Little Sisters of the Poor. Jeanne died later that same
year, on August 30. Her cause was introduced in Rome in 1970, and she was
beatified in 1982 and canonized in 2009.
Comment:
Jeanne Jugan saw Christ in what Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata would describe as his "distressing disguises." With great confidence in God's providence and the intercession of St. Joseph, she begged willingly for the many homes that she opened, relying on the good example of the Sisters and the generosity of benefactors who knew the good that the Sisters were doing. They now work in 30 countries. "With the eye of faith, we must see Jesus in our old people—for they are God's mouthpiece," Jeanne once said. No matter what the difficulties, she was always able to praise God and move ahead.
Jeanne Jugan saw Christ in what Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata would describe as his "distressing disguises." With great confidence in God's providence and the intercession of St. Joseph, she begged willingly for the many homes that she opened, relying on the good example of the Sisters and the generosity of benefactors who knew the good that the Sisters were doing. They now work in 30 countries. "With the eye of faith, we must see Jesus in our old people—for they are God's mouthpiece," Jeanne once said. No matter what the difficulties, she was always able to praise God and move ahead.
Quote:
In his homily at the canonization Mass, Pope Benedict XVI said: "In the Beatitudes, Jeanne Jugan found the source of the spirit of hospitality and fraternal love, founded on unlimited trust in Providence, which illuminated her whole life. This evangelical dynamism is continued today across the world in the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor, which she founded and which testifies, after her example, to the mercy of God and the compassionate love of the Heart of Jesus for the lowliest.”
www.americancatholic.orgIn his homily at the canonization Mass, Pope Benedict XVI said: "In the Beatitudes, Jeanne Jugan found the source of the spirit of hospitality and fraternal love, founded on unlimited trust in Providence, which illuminated her whole life. This evangelical dynamism is continued today across the world in the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor, which she founded and which testifies, after her example, to the mercy of God and the compassionate love of the Heart of Jesus for the lowliest.”
LECTIO: MATTHEW
25,1-13
Lectio:
Friday, August 30, 2013
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of everlasting goodness,
our origin and guide,
be close to us
and hear the prayers of all who praise you.
Forgive our sins and restore us to life.
Keep us safe in your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
our origin and guide,
be close to us
and hear the prayers of all who praise you.
Forgive our sins and restore us to life.
Keep us safe in your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading – Matthew 25, 1-13
Jesus said to his disciples: “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be
like this: Ten wedding attendants took their lamps and went to meet the
bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones,
though they took their lamps, took no oil with them, whereas the sensible ones
took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they
all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, “Look! The
bridegroom! Go out and meet him”. Then all those wedding attendants woke up and
trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, “give us
some of your oil: our lamps are going out.” But they replied, “There may not be
enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some
for yourselves.” They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those
who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed.
The other attendants arrived later. “Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for
us.” But He replied, “In truth I tell you I do not know you.” So stay awake,
because you do not know either the day or the hour.
3) Reflection
• Today is the Feast of Saint Edith Stein who in Carmel took the
name of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. For this reason, the Gospel today
narrates the parable of the ten virgins who had to welcome the bridegroom when
he arrived to the wedding.
• Matthew 25, 1ª: The beginning: “At that time”. The parable begins with these two words: “At that time”. It is a question of the coming of the Son of Man (cfr. Mt 24, 37). Nobody knows when this day, this time will come, “not even the angels in Heaven nor the Son himself, but only the Father” (Mt 24, 36). The fortune tellers will not succeed in giving an estimate. The Son of Man will come as a surprise, when people less expect him (Mt 24, 44). It can be today, it can be tomorrow, that is why the last warning of the parable of the ten Virgins is: “Keep watch!” The ten girls should be prepared for any thing which may happen. When the Nazi Policemen knocked at the door of the Monastery of the Carmelite Sisters of Echt in the Province of Limburgia, in the Netherlands, Edith Stein, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was prepared. She took on the Cross and followed the way to martyrdom in the extermination camp out of love for God and for her people. She was one of the prudent virgins of the parable.
• Matthew 25, 1b-4: The ten virgins ready to wait for the bridegroom. The parable begins like this: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like this: ten wedding attendants took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom”. It is a question of the girls who have to accompany the bridegroom to the wedding feast. Because of this, they have to take the lamps with them, to light the way, and also to render the feast more joyful with more light. Five of them were prudent and five were foolish. This difference is seen in the way in which they prepare themselves for the role that they have to carry out. Together with the lighted lamps, the prudent ones had taken some oil in reserve, preparing themselves in this way for anything which could happen. The foolish ones took only the lamps and they did not think to take some oil in reserve with them.
• Matthew 25, 5-7: The unforeseen delay of the arrival of the bridegroom. The bridegroom was late. He had not indicated precisely the hour of his arrival. While waiting the attendants went to sleep. But the lamps continue to burn and use the oil until gradually they turned off. Suddenly, in the middle of the night, there was a cry: “Look! The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!” All the attendants woke up, and began to prepare their lamps which were burning out. They had to put in some of the oil they had brought in reserve so that the lamps would not burn out.
• Matthew 25, 8-9: The different reactions before the delay of the bridegroom. It is only now that the foolish attendants become aware that they should have brought some oil in reserve with them. They went to ask the prudent ones: “Give us some of your oil, our lamps are going out”. The prudent ones could not respond to this request, because at that moment what was important was not for the prudent ones to share their oil with the foolish ones, but that they would be ready to accompany the bridegroom to the place of the feast. For this reason they advised them: “You had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves”.
• Matthew 25, 10-12: The fate of the prudent attendants and that of the foolish ones. The foolish ones followed the advice of the prudent ones and went to buy some oil. During their brief absence the bridegroom arrived and the prudent ones were able to accompany him and to enter together with him to the wedding feast. But the door was closed behind them. When the others arrived, they knocked at the door and said: “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!” and they received the response: “In truth I tell you, I do not know you”.
• Matthew 25, 13: The final recommendation of Jesus for all of us. The story of this parable is very simple and the lesson is evident: “So stay awake and watch, because you do not know either the day or the hour”. The moral of the story: do not be superficial, look beyond the present moment, and try to discover the call of God even in the smallest things of life, even the oil which may be lacking in the small light or lamp.
• Matthew 25, 1ª: The beginning: “At that time”. The parable begins with these two words: “At that time”. It is a question of the coming of the Son of Man (cfr. Mt 24, 37). Nobody knows when this day, this time will come, “not even the angels in Heaven nor the Son himself, but only the Father” (Mt 24, 36). The fortune tellers will not succeed in giving an estimate. The Son of Man will come as a surprise, when people less expect him (Mt 24, 44). It can be today, it can be tomorrow, that is why the last warning of the parable of the ten Virgins is: “Keep watch!” The ten girls should be prepared for any thing which may happen. When the Nazi Policemen knocked at the door of the Monastery of the Carmelite Sisters of Echt in the Province of Limburgia, in the Netherlands, Edith Stein, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was prepared. She took on the Cross and followed the way to martyrdom in the extermination camp out of love for God and for her people. She was one of the prudent virgins of the parable.
• Matthew 25, 1b-4: The ten virgins ready to wait for the bridegroom. The parable begins like this: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like this: ten wedding attendants took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom”. It is a question of the girls who have to accompany the bridegroom to the wedding feast. Because of this, they have to take the lamps with them, to light the way, and also to render the feast more joyful with more light. Five of them were prudent and five were foolish. This difference is seen in the way in which they prepare themselves for the role that they have to carry out. Together with the lighted lamps, the prudent ones had taken some oil in reserve, preparing themselves in this way for anything which could happen. The foolish ones took only the lamps and they did not think to take some oil in reserve with them.
• Matthew 25, 5-7: The unforeseen delay of the arrival of the bridegroom. The bridegroom was late. He had not indicated precisely the hour of his arrival. While waiting the attendants went to sleep. But the lamps continue to burn and use the oil until gradually they turned off. Suddenly, in the middle of the night, there was a cry: “Look! The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!” All the attendants woke up, and began to prepare their lamps which were burning out. They had to put in some of the oil they had brought in reserve so that the lamps would not burn out.
• Matthew 25, 8-9: The different reactions before the delay of the bridegroom. It is only now that the foolish attendants become aware that they should have brought some oil in reserve with them. They went to ask the prudent ones: “Give us some of your oil, our lamps are going out”. The prudent ones could not respond to this request, because at that moment what was important was not for the prudent ones to share their oil with the foolish ones, but that they would be ready to accompany the bridegroom to the place of the feast. For this reason they advised them: “You had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves”.
• Matthew 25, 10-12: The fate of the prudent attendants and that of the foolish ones. The foolish ones followed the advice of the prudent ones and went to buy some oil. During their brief absence the bridegroom arrived and the prudent ones were able to accompany him and to enter together with him to the wedding feast. But the door was closed behind them. When the others arrived, they knocked at the door and said: “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!” and they received the response: “In truth I tell you, I do not know you”.
• Matthew 25, 13: The final recommendation of Jesus for all of us. The story of this parable is very simple and the lesson is evident: “So stay awake and watch, because you do not know either the day or the hour”. The moral of the story: do not be superficial, look beyond the present moment, and try to discover the call of God even in the smallest things of life, even the oil which may be lacking in the small light or lamp.
4) Personal questions
• Has it happened to you sometimes in your life to think about
having oil in reserve for your lamp?
• Do you know the life of Saint Edith Stein, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross?
• Do you know the life of Saint Edith Stein, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross?
5) Concluding Prayer
I will bless Yahweh at all times,
his praise continually on my lips.
I will praise Yahweh from my heart;
let the humble hear and rejoice. (Ps 34,1-2)
his praise continually on my lips.
I will praise Yahweh from my heart;
let the humble hear and rejoice. (Ps 34,1-2)
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