August 30, 2013

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Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 429

Reading 11 THES 4:1-8

Brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God–
and as you are conducting yourselves–
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

St. Paul earnestly instructs the Thessalonians to continue in well doing and thus to please God.

This is the will of God, your holiness:
that you refrain from immorality,
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself
in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion
as do the Gentiles who do not know God;

This is something which our culture today needs to learn.  Finding a wife or husband is not a matter of looking for someone who dresses scantily.  It is a matter of knowing each other and being best of friends.

not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,
for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,

I think he is warning here about sex before marriage.  A brother or sister being a brother or sister in Christ.

as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.

We are to remain holy.  

Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not a human being but God,
who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Whoever disregards these instructions from the Church is disregarding God Himself.

Responsorial PsalmPS 97:1 AND 2B, 5-6, 10, 11-12

R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Love the Lord and always seek to do His will.  It is only those who keep His Commandments who truly love God.  Those who seek their own will, love themselves.  But in so doing will lose their souls.

GospelMT 25:1-13

This parable is about perseverance in faith.

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins

who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

We are the ten virgins.  Jesus is the bridegroom.

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

Half of the people who seek Jesus are wise.  The other half are are not.

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,

brought no oil with them,

but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.

The oil represents faith.  The lamps represent works.

Since the bridegroom was long delayed,

they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

This is a reference to the Ascension of Jesus Christ and the period before His Second Coming.

At midnight, there was a cry,

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

Then, someone saw the Bridegroom afar off and woke up the maids.

Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

They all got up and turned on their lights.

The foolish ones said to the wise,

‘Give us some of your oil,

for our lamps are going out.’

At that point, the foolish virgins could barely light their lamps because they had no fuel.  This represents their lack of faith.  They turned to the wise ones and asked them for more.  But faith is not something one can give to another.  Either you have it and prove it by your works.  Or you don't have it.  

But the wise ones replied,

‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.

Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’

Therefore, the wise maidens said, "You're on your own.  You must prove your faith by your works." 

While they went off to buy it,

The foolish virgins didn't know how to do that.  They thought they could find faith somewhere and purchase it.

the bridegroom came

and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.

So, when Jesus arrived, the wise virgins were ready and joined Him.

Then the door was locked.

Afterwards the other virgins came and said,

‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’

And the doors into heaven were locked.  When the foolish ones came back, they found themselves locked outside.

But he said in reply,

‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’

And Jesus said to them, "I do not know you."  This reminds me of the same thing Jesus said to those Christians who thought they were faithful:

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to persevere in good works.  Because it is God who judges us on the basis of our works.  Not on the basis of claims of faith.  Good works prove faith in God.  They also prove love of God.  Therefore, persevere in good works and you will be blessed. 

Therefore, stay awake,

for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Therefore, do the will of God always.