Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
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!
AlleluiaLK 21:36
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that yo umay have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that yo umay have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.
Don't miss the most important engagement of all
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!
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 don't
have the right visa or a valid passport.
The consequences of being unprepared to meet the Lord
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.
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."
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, MATTHEW 25:1-13
(1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Psalm 97)
(1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Psalm 97)
KEY VERSE: "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (v 13).
TO KNOW: Jesus told his followers a parable about the necessity of being prepared for his final coming. In Jesus' day, the bridegroom went to the bride’s house in order to bring the bride to his own home where the wedding feast would be held. The bridesmaids were expected to meet the bridegroom and the bride as they approach the house. The foolish bridesmaids did not expect the bridegroom to arrive at night, but the wise ones believed that he could arrive at any time. The foolish bridesmaids were caught by surprise and were unable to obtain oil in time for the beginning of the wedding feast. The door had been locked, and they were refused entrance (vv. 11–12). The point of this parable was vigilance. Jesus was continually telling people to wake up and to stay awake. Obtaining the oil of sanctity is the responsibility of each individual. No one can 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.
TO LOVE: Am I wise or foolish in my service to the Lord?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, fill me with your grace so that I may be prepared to meet you when you come in glory.
Memorial of Augustine, bishop and doctor of
the Church
Although he was trained in Christianity by his mother Monica, Augustine lost his faith in youth and led a wild life. He lived with a Carthaginian woman from the age of 15 through 30, and fathered a son whom he named Adeotadus (the gift of God). Augustine taught rhetoric at Carthage and Milan. After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies, he became a Manichaean, which taught of a great struggle between good and evil, and featured a lax moral code. A summation of his thinking at the time comes from his Confessions: "God, give me chastity and continence - but not just now." Augustine finally broke with the Manichaeans and was converted by the prayers of his mother and the help of Ambrose of Milan. In 387 Augustine was baptized at Easter along with his son, who died soon afterwards. On the death of his mother he returned to Africa, sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery. Augustine oversaw his church and his See as Bishop of Hippo during the fall of the Roman Empire to the Vandals. His later thinking can also be summed up in a line from his writings: "Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you." Augustine is a Doctor of the Church.
"To late have I loved you, O Beauty, ancient yet ever new. Too late have I loved you! And behold, you were within, but I was outside, searching for you there . . . You were with me, but I was not with you. . . You breathed fragrant odors on me, and I held back my breath, but now I pant for you. I tasted, and now I hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and now I yearn for your peace" (Augustine, Book X, n. 27).
Friday 28 August 2015
FRI 28TH.
St Augustine. DAY OF PENANCE.
1
Thessalonians 4:1-8. Let the just rejoice in the Lord—Ps
96(97):1-2, 5-6, 10-12. Matthew 25:1-13.
Like the ten maidens spoken of in today’s gospel,
I want to meet you.
Help me
to be prepared. However, when you delay in revealing yourself, I am nearly
always like the foolish maidens—unprepared. When you do come, meeting you
involves making a lot of preparation to cover the unexpected. The foolish
maidens had their lamps and they had oil. They simply hadn’t counted on your
being late.
This
makes me realise that I approach many relationships not fully prepared, hoping
to get a maximum return from a minimum of effort. I want to live in ways that
please you. Help me treat others with respect and reverence and not as objects
to satisfy my ego. Help me be prepared so that I can put in the effort required
in order to further the coming of your kingdom.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Obedience to Jesus
|
Lord, please fill my heart and soul with the confidence that you
will always provide what I need, when I need it, and let me be obedient to you.
August
28
St. Augustine of Hippo
(354-430)
St. Augustine of Hippo
(354-430)
A Christian at 33, a priest at 36, a bishop at 41: Many people are
familiar with the biographical sketch of Augustine of Hippo, sinner turned
saint. But really to get to know the man is a rewarding experience.
There
quickly surfaces the intensity with which he lived his life, whether his path
led away from or toward God. The tears of his mother (August 27), the instructions
of Ambrose (December 7) and, most of all, God himself speaking to him in
the Scriptures redirected Augustine’s love of life to a life of love.
Having
been so deeply immersed in creature-pride of life in his early days and having
drunk deeply of its bitter dregs, it is not surprising that Augustine should
have turned, with a holy fierceness, against the many demon-thrusts rampant in
his day. His times were truly decadent—politically, socially, morally. He was
both feared and loved, like the Master. The perennial criticism leveled against
him: a fundamental rigorism.
In his
day, he providentially fulfilled the office of prophet. Like Jeremiah and other
greats, he was hard-pressed but could not keep quiet. “I say to myself, I will
not mention him,/I will speak in his name no more./But then it becomes like
fire burning in my heart,/imprisoned in my bones;/I grow weary holding it in,/I
cannot endure it” (Jeremiah 20:9).
Comment:
Augustine is still acclaimed and condemned in our day. He is a prophet for today, trumpeting the need to scrap escapisms and stand face-to-face with personal responsibility and dignity.
Augustine is still acclaimed and condemned in our day. He is a prophet for today, trumpeting the need to scrap escapisms and stand face-to-face with personal responsibility and dignity.
Quote:
“Too late have I loved you, O Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new! Too late I loved you! And behold, you were within, and I abroad, and there I searched for you; I was deformed, plunging amid those fair forms, which you had made. You were with me, but I was not with you. Things held me far from you—things which, if they were not in you, were not at all. You called, and shouted, and burst my deafness. You flashed and shone, and scattered my blindness. You breathed odors and I drew in breath—and I pant for you. I tasted, and I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for your peace” (St. Augustine, Confessions).
“Too late have I loved you, O Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new! Too late I loved you! And behold, you were within, and I abroad, and there I searched for you; I was deformed, plunging amid those fair forms, which you had made. You were with me, but I was not with you. Things held me far from you—things which, if they were not in you, were not at all. You called, and shouted, and burst my deafness. You flashed and shone, and scattered my blindness. You breathed odors and I drew in breath—and I pant for you. I tasted, and I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for your peace” (St. Augustine, Confessions).
Patron Saint of:
Printers
Printers
LECTIO: MATTHEW
25,1-13
Lectio:
Friday, August 28, 2015
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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