Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 28, 2020
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.17-25
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize: not through the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ become empty18For the Word of the Cross is certainly foolishness to those who are perishing. But to those who have been saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God19For it has been written: "I will perish the wisdom of the wise, and I will reject the discernment of the prudent.20Where are the wise? Where are the scribes? Where are the truth-seekers of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of this world into foolishness21For the world did not know God through wisdom, and so, in the wisdom of God, it pleased God to accomplish the salvation of believers, through the foolishness of our preaching22For the Jews ask for signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom23But we are preaching Christ crucified. Certainly, to the Jews, this is a scandal, and to the Gentiles, this is foolishness24But to those who have been called, Jews as well as Greeks, the Christ is the virtue of God and the wisdom of God25For what is foolishness to God is considered wise by men, and that which is weakness to God is considered strong by men
Psalm 33
1A Psalm of David. Exult in the Lord, you just ones; together praise the upright2Confess to the Lord with stringed instruments; sing psalms to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings3Sing to him a new song. Sing psalms to him skillfully, with loud exclamation4For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his works are in faith5He loves mercy and judgment. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord6By the word of the Lord, the heavens were established, and all their power, by the Spirit of his mouth7gathering together the waters of the sea, as if in a container, placing the depths in storage8Let all the earth fear the Lord, and may all the inhabitants of the world quake before him9For he spoke, and they became. He commanded, and they were created10The Lord scatters the counsels of the nations. Moreover, he reproves the thoughts of the people, and he rejects the counsels of the leaders11But the counsel of the Lord remains for eternity, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance13The Lord has looked down from heaven. He has seen all the sons of men14From his well-prepared dwelling place, he has gazed upon all who dwell on the earth15He has formed the hearts of each one of them; he understands all their works16The king is not saved by great power, nor will the giant be saved by his many powers17The horse is false safety; for he will not be saved by the abundance of his powers18Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and on those who hope in his mercy19so as to rescue their souls from death and to feed them during famine20Our soul remains with the Lord. For he is our helper and protector21For in him, our heart will rejoice, and in his holy name, we have hoped22Let your mercy be upon us, O Lord, just as we have hoped in you
Gospel: Matthew 25.1-13
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 encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us that the cross of Christ, often seen as foolishness by the world, is in fact the power of God. Paul emphasizes that true wisdom comes not from human understanding but from the cross, urging us to embrace God's wisdom over worldly knowledge.
The Gospel from Matthew presents the parable of the ten virgins, where preparedness is key. The prudent virgins, with their lamps filled with oil, symbolize spiritual readiness, while the foolish ones, unprepared, miss the groom's arrival. This parable underscores the importance of being vigilant and prepared for the unexpected return of the kingdom of heaven.
These readings relate by highlighting the themes of wisdom and preparedness. Paul's message in Corinthians encourages us to trust in God's wisdom, while Matthew's parable calls us to spiritual readiness. Together, they remind us to focus on our spiritual lives, trusting in God's plan and staying prepared for life's uncertainties.
In our daily lives, this means cultivating faith, hope, and love, and not being swayed by worldly pursuits. True wisdom lies in the cross, and being prepared spiritually ensures we remain grounded in our faith. Let us embrace God's wisdom and stay vigilant, ready to meet Him whenever He comes.