Vigilance and preparation in our faith journey,

because adversaries seek to distract and derail faith.

Jesus used parables like the wise and foolish virgins to stress

that readiness cannot be borrowed or rushed at the last minute;

it requires maintaining a filled lamp of faith and good works.

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

For Christ

Did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim his gospel. And not with beautiful words!

That would be like getting rid of the cross of Christ.

The language of the cross remains nonsense for those who are lost.

Yet for us who are saved, it is the power of God,

as Scripture says: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and make fail the foresight of the foresighted.

Masters of human wisdom, educated people, philosophers, you have no reply!

And the wisdom of this world? God let it fail.

 

At first, God spoke the language of wisdom,

and the world did not know God through wisdom.

Then God thought of saving the believers, through the foolishness that we preach.

 

The Jews ask for miracles and the Greeks for a higher knowledge,

while we proclaim a crucified Messiah. For the Jews, what a great scandal! And for the Greeks,

what nonsense! But he is Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God,

for those called by God among both Jews and Greeks. In reality,

the "foolishness" of God is wiser than humans, and the "weakness" of God is stronger than humans.

 

Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

Matthew 25:1-13

This story throws light on what will happen in the kingdom of heaven:

Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps to meet the bridegroom.

Five of them were foolish, and five were sensible.

The careless bridesmaids took their lamps as they were, and did not take extra oil.

But those who were sensible, took flasks of oil with their lamps.

As the bridegroom delayed, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.

 

But at midnight, a cry rang out, 'The bridegroom is here, come out and meet him!'

All the maidens woke up at once, and trimmed their lamps.

Then the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, 'Give us some oil, for our lamps are going out.

The sensible ones answered, 'There may not be enough for us and for you.

You had better go to those who sell, and buy some for yourselves.

 

When the bridegroom came, the foolish maidens were out buying oil,

but those who were ready went with him into the wedding feast, and the doors were shut.

Later the other bridesmaids arrived and called out, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!

But he answered, 'Truly I do not know you.' So stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

 Vigilance and preparation in our faith journey.

The parable of the ten virgins powerfully reminds us of the importance of spiritual readiness.

In this story, ten virgins await the arrival of the bridegroom, symbolizing Jesus' Second Coming.

Five are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while the other five, unprepared,

find themselves without oil when the bridegroom arrives.

The door to the wedding feast closes, leaving the unprepared outside.

 

This parable emphasizes the importance of vigilance and preparation in our faith journey.

The oil symbolizes our spiritual lives – our relationship with God nurtured through prayer, scripture, and service.

It urges us to take responsibility for staying spiritually nourished,

as we cannot rely on others to provide for what only we can cultivate.

 

Jesus warns us to stay alert, for we do not know the day or hour of His return.

This passage challenges us to live each day as if the bridegroom could arrive at any moment.

Let us be like the wise virgins, keeping our lamps shining brightly

and our hearts prepared to meet the Lord with joy and anticipation.