Daily Readings - Fri Aug 30 2019
1 Thessalonians
1Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;4that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,5not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.7For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.8Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Matthew
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 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.