Daily Readings - Fri Aug 30 2019
1 Thessalonians
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
Matthew
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
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of living a virtuous and prepared life. The first reading from 1 Thessalonians encourages us to live in sanctification, avoiding impurity and treating others justly. This letter, written by Paul, emphasizes that our actions should reflect God’s will, focusing on holiness and respect for one another. The Gospel from Matthew presents the parable of the ten virgins, where five were prepared with extra oil for their lamps, while the other five were not. This parable highlights the necessity of spiritual preparedness, as the unprepared virgins were unable to join the bridegroom upon his unexpected return.
Both readings stress the importance of readiness and righteous living. In Thessalonians, Paul urges believers to live in a way that honors God, avoiding sinful desires and treating others with fairness. Similarly, the parable of the virgins teaches us that spiritual preparedness is essential, as we do not know when we will be called to meet the Lord. The prudent virgins, with their extra oil, symbolize those who are spiritually vigilant and prepared for God’s timing.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are called to maintain a state of spiritual readiness. Just as the wise virgins kept extra oil, we must nurture our faith through prayer, reflection, and good works. This preparedness allows us to face life’s challenges with grace and to be ready for the unexpected. The moral lesson here is one of vigilance and holiness—living each day in a way that pleases God, avoiding sin, and treating others with love and respect. By doing so, we ensure that when the Lord comes, whether at the end of our lives or His second coming, we will be ready to enter into His presence with joy.