Daily Readings - Fri Sep 01 2017

First Reading - 1 Thessalonians 4.1-8

¹Therefore, concerning other things, brothers, we ask and beg you, in the Lord Jesus, that, just as you have received from us the way in which you ought to walk and to please God, so also may you walk, in order that you may abound all the more²For you know what precepts I have given to you through the Lord Jesus³For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from fornication⁴that each one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor⁵not in passions of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God⁶and that no one should overwhelm or circumvent his brother in business. For the Lord is the vindicator of all these things, just as we have preached and testified to you⁷For God has not called us to impurity, but to sanctification⁸And so, whoever despises these teachings, does not despise man, but God, who has even provided his Holy Spirit within us

Gospel - Matthew 25.1-13

Matthew

Chapter 25

¹"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the groom and the bride²But five of them were foolish, and five were prudent³For the five foolish, having brought their lamps, did not take oil with them⁴Yet truly, the prudent ones brought the oil, in their containers, with the lamps⁵Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep, and they were sleeping⁶But in the middle of the night, a cry went out: ‘Behold, the groom is arriving. Go out to meet him.⁷Then all those virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps⁸But the foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give to us from your oil, for our lamps are being extinguished.⁹The prudent responded by saying, ‘Lest perhaps there may not be enough for us and for you, it would be better for you to go to the vendors and buy some for yourselves.¹⁰But while they were going to buy it, the groom arrived. And those who were prepared entered with him to the wedding, and the door was closed¹¹Yet truly, at the very end, the remaining virgins also arrived, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.¹²But he responded by saying, ‘Amen I say to you, I do not know you.¹³And so you must be vigilant, because you do not know the day or the hour

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the importance of living with purpose, integrity, and spiritual preparedness. In the first reading from 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul urges the early Christians to live in a way that pleases God, emphasizing the need for holiness and moral integrity. He reminds them that their calling is to sanctification, which involves avoiding sinful behaviors and treating others justly. This passage is set in the context of a young Christian community striving to live according to the teachings of Christ, even as they faced challenges from the surrounding pagan culture. Paul’s words are both a reminder and a warning: living a virtuous life is not optional for those who follow Christ. The Gospel parable of the ten virgins further underscores the theme of preparedness. Jesus tells the story of five wise virgins who were ready to meet the bridegroom with enough oil for their lamps, while the five foolish ones were unprepared and missed the opportunity to enter the wedding feast. This parable is part of Jesus’ teachings on vigilance and readiness for the coming of the Kingdom of God. The delay of the bridegroom symbolizes the unknown timing of Christ’s return, and the oil represents the spiritual resources we need to sustain us in our faith journey. The foolish virgins, who failed to bring extra oil, remind us that spiritual complacency can lead to being left behind. Together, these readings call us to live with intentionality and mindfulness. St. Paul’s exhortation to holiness and the parable of the virgins both emphasize the importance of being prepared to meet God at any moment. In our daily lives, this means cultivating virtues, avoiding sin, and nurturing our relationship with God through prayer and good works. Just as the wise virgins kept their lamps burning, we must keep our hearts and minds focused on Christ, ensuring that we are spiritually prepared for whatever comes our way. Let us not grow complacent or distracted by the world, but instead strive to live as children of light, ready to welcome the Lord whenever He comes.