Daily Readings - Sun Nov 12 2023
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
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of preparedness, hope, and the pursuit of wisdom. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom encourages us to seek wisdom diligently, for it is a gift from God that illuminates our path and perfects our understanding. Wisdom is not something we stumble upon by chance; it requires effort, vigilance, and a willingness to seek it with an open heart. The reading reminds us that wisdom anticipates those who desire it and reveals herself to those who are watchful and attentive.
The second reading from 1 Thessalonians shifts our focus to hope and comfort in the face of loss. St. Paul reassures the early Christians that those who have died in Christ will rise again with him. This passage is a beautiful reminder of the Christian hope that transcends death. It encourages us to console one another with the promise of resurrection and to live with the assurance that we will one day be united with the Lord and with each other.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for the unexpected. The five wise virgins, who brought extra oil for their lamps, represent those who are vigilant and ready to meet the Lord at any moment. The foolish virgins, who ran out of oil, remind us that spiritual complacency can lead to missed opportunities. This parable is a call to live with a sense of urgency and readiness, nurturing our faith and love for God so that we may be found prepared when the Lord comes.
These readings are deeply connected. The pursuit of wisdom in the first reading, the hope of resurrection in the second, and the call to preparedness in the Gospel all point to the same truth: our lives as Christians are marked by anticipation and readiness. We are called to live each day with a sense of purpose, seeking wisdom, nurturing hope, and staying vigilant for the Lord’s return. In practical terms, this means cultivating prayer, living with integrity, and being mindful of how we use the time and resources God has given us. May we, like the wise virgins, be found prepared and faithful when the Lord comes, whether in the end of our lives or at the end of time. Let us trust in God’s promises and live with hearts open to his grace.