DAILY- HOMILY

August 31, 2018 – FRIDAY, 21st Week in Ordinary Time

Green.

1 Cor 1: 26 – 31 / Mt 25: 1- 13

FROM THE 1ST READING: 1 Cor 1: 26- 27

Look and see whom God has called. Few among you can be said to be cultured or wealthy, and few belong to noble families. Yet God has chosen what the world considers foolish, to shame the wise; he has chosen what the world considers weak to shame the strong.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 25: 1- 13

Jesus said, "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 were careless while 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 both you and us. You had better go to those who sell and buy 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 rest of the 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

As Catholics, we believe that Christ died to save us all. How convenient, right? Just by being a Christian and a believer in Christ, one is forgiven and saved? Really?

To be saved, one must be a real Christian, a real follower of Christ.. This means that one has to follow his commandments and teachings as closely as one can. But we can be like the careless bridesmaids in today's parable and be relaxed and complacent about our living out of our Christian obligations and commitments. Why not enjoy life now and perhaps at our later years begin to worry about our Christian living? Anyway Christ did die to save us all.

This is simple arrogance if we lived and behaved this way. We cannot shut out the possibility that at any time we could die and have to make an accounting before our good God and Judge. Like the bridesmaids for the wedding, we could be summoned at any time to face God's judgment. So as Jesus said so clearly in the Gospel reading, "So stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour."

Will we be ready when God calls or would we be away unprepared and have the doors to the heavenly banquet shut against us?

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST. 

BIRTHDAY 

     Fr. Joseph Patrick 5. Sanchez S.J.

     Adelaida (Didi) Villegas

Have a good day!

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