Thursday, August 29, 2013

 

FRIDAY 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

AUGUST 30, 2013
FRIDAY 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

1 Thes 4:1-8 / Ps 97: 1 and 2b. 5-6. 10. 11-12 / Mt 25:1-13

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
For the rest, brothers, we ask you in the name of Jesus, the Lord, and we urge you to live in a way that pleases God, just as you have learned from us. This you do, but try to do still more. You know the instructions we gave you on behalf of the Lord Jesus: the will of God for you is to become holy and not to have unlawful sex. Let each of you behave towards his wife as a holy and respectful husband, rather than being led by lust, as are pagans who do not know God. In this matter, let no one offend or wrong a brother. The Lord will do justice in all these things, as we have warned and shown you. God has called us to live, not in impurity but in holiness, and those who do not heed this instruction disobey, not a human, but God himself who gives you his Holy Spirit.

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 care less, and the others were sensible. The careless bridesmaids took their lamps as they were, and did not bring extra oil. But those who were sensible, brought with their lamps flasks of oil. 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 careless 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.' They were out buying oil when the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to 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.

REFLECTION
Jesus teaches as the first and most important commandment that we love God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind. The extent of observance of this commandment is exemplified in this parable of Jesus about the ten bridesmaids.

Five of the bridesmaids practiced this commandment with their whole heart, soul and mind. They desired to accompany the bridegroom, Jesus, to the wedding feast, to heaven. Hence, the five sensible bridesmaids in their desire to accomplish their goal, prepared for the needs of the journey by bringing flasks of oil for their lamps.

The five careless bridesmaids followed the commandment with all their heart and all their soul, but they failed to observe it with all their mind. They did not fully prepare for the journey by not bringing the necessary oil needed for their lamps, and thus failed to attain their goal. The sensible bridesmaids could not give them oil from their own lamps because that would have caused them also to fail to reach their destination.

How often do we presume that our loving God would provide for all that we need to get to heaven and cause us to get there? God does provide all the means but are there times when we do not choose to avail of those means because we are too preoccupied with loves other than for God?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Virginia Hernandez, and Fleur Torres
- Nick (MD), Ed, Denise, Debbie (AZ),Randy, Bob M, Benny, Herb & Mrs D
- Joy Droke
- Ma. Andrea Kristina Lagmay
… for the personal intentions of
- Beny Chua
- Soraya Reyes
- Rhona de Leon
- Chuck, Ben, Nancy, Netta, Rita P, Mary Ann M, Joann's son & Fr Larry
… In Memoriam: Eriberta Calvario
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Wedding Anniversary: Willy & Denisa Tong
- Thanksgiving: Dolljoy
- In Memoriam (+): Daniel S. Que
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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