Friday of the Twenty-First Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 429
Lectionary: 429
Brothers and sisters:
Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the learning of the learned I will set aside.
Where is the wise one?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?
For since in the wisdom of God
the world did not come to know God through wisdom,
it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation
to save those who have faith.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the learning of the learned I will set aside.
Where is the wise one?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?
For since in the wisdom of God
the world did not come to know God through wisdom,
it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation
to save those who have faith.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11
R. (5) The
earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
AlleluiaLK 21:36
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that you may 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."
Daily Quote from the
early church fathers: The Kingdom of God compared with ten maidens,
by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD)
"The whole story is
about the great day of the Lord, when those things concealed from the human
mind will be revealed through our understanding of divine judgment. Then the
faith true to the Lord's coming will win the just reward for unwavering hope.
For in the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:2), a complete
separation between the faithful and unfaithful is established... The wise
virgins are those who, embracing the time available to them, were prepared at
the first onset of the coming of the Lord. But the foolish were those who were
lax and unmindful. They troubled themselves only over present matters and,
forgetting what God said, did not direct their efforts toward hope for
resurrection." (excerpt from the commentary ON MATTHEW 27.3,5)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, MATTHEW 25:1-13
Weekday
(1 Corinthians 1:17-25; Psalm 33)
Weekday
(1 Corinthians 1:17-25; Psalm 33)
KEY VERSE: "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (v 13).
TO KNOW: Using the imagery of a wedding, 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.
Friday 26 August
Fri
26th. Day of penance.
1
Corinthians 1:17-25. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord—Ps 32(33):1-2, 4-5, 10-11. Matthew
25:1-13.
'Therefore,
stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.'
The
Parable of the 10 Virgins as told in today's Gospel can be interpreted as a 'be
prepared message' on many levels. With so much going on in our lives we can
spread ourselves a bit too thin on the ground. The five virgins took a risk in
not bringing spare oil for their lamps. We can take on too many activities, try
to be all things to many people, and then find ourselves in a risky position
when the very important times come. We then don't have the energy to be really
present for those who matter most. We can miss the joy of the occasion.
'Staying awake' can be about giving all we can to those we love but being
prepared to have a little 'oil' aside to give energy to our relationship with
God.
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
|
Mother Church
|
The Church’s motherhood is a spiritual reality that profoundly
affects the lives of believers. In fact, the famous convert to Catholicism
Cardinal John Henry Newman once said that it was through his reading and
encounter with the Church of the Fathers that “I found my spiritual Mother.”
August
26
St. Joseph Calasanz
(1556-1648)
St. Joseph Calasanz
(1556-1648)
From Aragon, where he was born in 1556, to Rome, where
he died 92 years later, fortune alternately smiled and frowned on the work of
Joseph Calasanz. A priest with university training in canon law and theology,
respected for his wisdom and administrative expertise, he put aside his career
because he was deeply concerned with the need for education of poor children.
When he was unable to get other institutes to
undertake this apostolate at Rome, he and several companions personally
provided a free school for deprived children. So overwhelming was the response
that there was a constant need for larger facilities to house their effort.
Soon Pope Clement VIII gave support to the school, and this aid continued under
Pope Paul V. Other schools were opened; other men were attracted to the work
and in 1621 the community (for so the teachers lived) was recognized as a
religious community, the Clerks Regular of Religious Schools (Piarists or
Scolopi). Not long after, Joseph was appointed superior for life.
A combination of various prejudices and political
ambition and maneuvering caused the institute much turmoil. Some did not favor
educating the poor, for education would leave the poor dissatisfied with their
lowly tasks for society! Others were shocked that some of the Piarists were
sent for instruction to Galileo (a friend of Joseph) as superior, thus dividing
the members into opposite camps. Repeatedly investigated by papal commissions,
Joseph was demoted; when the struggle within the institute persisted, the
Piarists were suppressed. Only after Joseph’s death were they formally
recognized as a religious community.
Comment:
No one knew better than Joseph the need for the work he was doing; no one knew better than he how baseless were the charges brought against him. Yet if he were to work within the Church, he realized that he must submit to its authority, that he must accept a setback if he was unable to convince authorized investigators. While the prejudice, the scheming, and the ignorance of men often keep the truth from emerging for a long period of time, Joseph was convinced, even under suppression, that his institute would again be recognized and authorized. With this trust he joined exceptional patience and a genuine spirit of forgiveness.
No one knew better than Joseph the need for the work he was doing; no one knew better than he how baseless were the charges brought against him. Yet if he were to work within the Church, he realized that he must submit to its authority, that he must accept a setback if he was unable to convince authorized investigators. While the prejudice, the scheming, and the ignorance of men often keep the truth from emerging for a long period of time, Joseph was convinced, even under suppression, that his institute would again be recognized and authorized. With this trust he joined exceptional patience and a genuine spirit of forgiveness.
Quote:
Even in the days after his own demotion, Joseph protected his persecutors against his enraged partisans; and when the community was suppressed, he stated with Job, to whom he was often compared: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; /blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21b).
Even in the days after his own demotion, Joseph protected his persecutors against his enraged partisans; and when the community was suppressed, he stated with Job, to whom he was often compared: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; /blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21b).
LECTIO: MATTHEW 25,1-13
Lectio Divina:
Friday, August 26, 2016
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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