Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 31, 2018
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.17-25
17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Psalm 33
1Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.4For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!13The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Gospel: Matthew 25.1-13
1"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.6But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.8And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'9But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'12But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'13Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our spiritual preparedness and trust in God's wisdom. 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 and wisdom of God. Paul emphasizes that true wisdom comes from God, not from human understanding, challenging us to embrace the humility of faith over the arrogance of human knowledge.
The Gospel parable of the ten virgins further underscores the importance of being prepared spiritually. The prudent virgins, who brought extra oil, were ready to meet the bridegroom when he arrived unexpectedly, while the foolish ones were caught off guard. This parable teaches us about the necessity of vigilance and the importance of nurturing our spiritual lives so that we may be ready to meet Christ at any moment.
Both readings call us to a life of trust and preparedness. In a world that often values human wisdom and self-reliance, we are invited to embrace the foolishness of the cross and to cultivate spiritual vigilance. Let us strive to deepen our relationship with God, trusting in His wisdom and being prepared to meet Him in all aspects of our lives. May we remember that true strength and wisdom come from God, and may we always be ready to embrace His plan with faith and humility.