Daily Readings - Sun Nov 08 2020
1 Thessalonians
13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of wisdom, hope, and preparedness. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom encourages us to seek wisdom diligently, emphasizing that it is a gift that can be found by those who love and pursue it. The second reading from 1 Thessalonians offers comfort regarding those who have passed away, assuring us of the hope of resurrection and the promise of eternal life with Christ. The Gospel parable of the ten virgins underscores the importance of being prepared to meet the Lord, reminding us to stay vigilant and ready for His return.
These readings are interconnected through the theme of preparedness and the pursuit of what is truly valuable. Wisdom, as personified in the first reading, is not just knowledge but a way of life that guides us in making virtuous choices. The hope of resurrection in the second reading gives us the assurance that our efforts to live a life of faith are not in vain. The parable of the virgins in the Gospel serves as a reminder that our spiritual lives require constant attention and preparation, much like the prudent virgins who ensured they had enough oil for their lamps.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to be mindful of our spiritual state. We are encouraged to seek wisdom in our decisions, to live with hope even in the face of uncertainty, and to remain vigilant in our faith. The moral lesson here is clear: our lives should be oriented towards eternal values, and we must be prepared to meet the Lord at any moment. As we go about our daily routines, let us remember to nurture our spiritual lives, just as the prudent virgins tended to their lamps, so that we may be ready to welcome Christ whenever He comes.