21ST FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 25: 1-13) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“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.'” (Mt 25:9)

FIRST READING - 1 Thess 4:1-8

"This is the will of God, your holiness."

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians

¹ Finally, brothers, 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. ² For you know what instructions^[a] we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

^{[b] 3} This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, ⁴ that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ not to take advantage of or exploit a brother in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. ⁷ For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. ⁸ Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who [also] gives his holy Spirit to you.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 25:1-13

"Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!"

✠From the Gospel according to Matthew.

^{[a] 1} “Then^[b] the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ^2 [c]Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶ At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ 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.’ ¹⁰ 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. ^11 [d]Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ ¹² But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Therefore, stay awake,^[e] for you know neither the day nor the hour.

21ST FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 25: 1-13)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God today instructs everyone that one must live in vigilance in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to the parable of the ten virgins who took their lamps to await the bridegroom to be welcomed into the wedding feast, among whom five were foolish, bringing lamps but no oil, while the other five were wise, bringing both lamps and oil.

God uses this parable to convey to everyone that the Kingdom of Heaven is reserved for those who remain vigilant in awaiting God's coming.

What does it mean to remain vigilant in awaiting God's coming? It is to always have a heart burning with love, a heart that knows how to share and live charitably with everyone.

– The image of the five wise virgins with their lamps brightly shining to illuminate for all: that shining lamp represents shining examples of good deeds performed before God.

– The image of the five foolish virgins: having lamps but not enough oil: this is the image of those who live selfishly, live in sinful passions and lust, are not vigilant, and do not have reverence for God.

– The image of the five foolish virgins not being allowed to enter the wedding feast with the bridegroom: this is a warning for those who are living in sin, living in passionate lust, living far from God, far from the faith, and not being obedient to God. When God comes unexpectedly to call them out of this world, their fate will be like that of the foolish virgins – they will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Word of God today presents the image of the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins so that everyone may look upon it and decide for themselves: do we want to be among the five wise virgins or among the foolish ones?

To choose to live according to the example of the wise virgins is to always be vigilant, be prepared, and be ready. The lamp is always filled with oil; this means always keeping one’s soul filled with love for God and for others while awaiting the day God calls one into the Kingdom of Heaven. But to choose to live like the five foolish virgins: that is to live in lustful passion, in sin, and far from God, then such a person will be cast out of the wedding feast and will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven when the day comes that God calls them out of this world.

God calls everyone to make the choice according to the example of the five wise virgins—always be vigilant and be ready to welcome God’s coming. That is the wisest choice to be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and enjoy happiness with God.

Thanks be to God. Amen