Daily Readings - Sun Nov 08 2020
1 Thessalonians
13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.18Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Matthew
1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.2Five of them were foolish and five were wise.3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'9"'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or 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.