Author: admin

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Gospel: Matthew 25: 1-13

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. 
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!’ 
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’ 
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.’ 
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. 
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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I’m sure we all know someone who lives without faith.

Today we lift them up to the Lord, seeking the intercession of Saint Monica.

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Monica is the patroness of mothers, married women, and alcoholics.

She never had an easy life. Among other things, her husband was unfaithful in their marriage. Sadly, his wayward life also rubbed off on their children. 

But Monica never gave up.

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We know the story of one of her children, in particular, Augustine of Hippo.

Like his father, Augustine was a restless youth who caused his mother to worry constantly. Although he was a towering intellect, he saw no need for faith.

For 17 years, Monica prayed for his conversion. And shortly before her death her prayer was answered.

Augustine not only became a Catholic; he was also ordained a priest and later a bishop. 

Writing extensively about the Catholic faith, Augustine became one of the most influential thinkers the Church has ever known. 

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But on her deathbed, Monica asked only one thing of her son: “That you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be.”

That’s something we can all do for our loved ones – remember them at the altar of the Lord.

Like Monica, may we never give up, trusting that one day the Lord draw them to himself. 

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Image credits: (1) Amazon (2) Saint Augustine and His Mother, Monica, by Ary Scheffer (3) Catholic Faith Store.

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1 Thessalonians 3:7-13

We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,
in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,
for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?
Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person
and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus
direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts, 
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

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I met a parent the other day who was once involved in the Boy Scouts. 

He told me stories about some outdoor adventures he took his scouts on, including hikes in Appalachia and boating trips in Minnesota. 

“At home,” he said, “I rarely pay attention to the weather report. But out there, in the middle of nowhere, your life depends upon it. We’d be glued to the weather hour by hour.”

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Isn’t it easy to take a similar approach with God?

When all is well – when we’re resting comfortably at home – it’s easy to take God for granted.

But when the storms of life are raging, we cling to Him hour by hour.

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Mature Christians, however, seek God at all times.

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This is essentially Paul’s point in our first reading.

Like any pastor, he’s anxious and concerned about his flock. “Night and day we pray beyond measure to remedy the deficiencies of your faith,” he says.

Paul’s exhorting these early Christians to care about the weather, as it were; to remember the Lord at all times, not just during the storms of life.

To use Paul’s words, turning to God only when we need him is a “deficiency” in faith.

May we take Paul’s advice and spend time with the Lord daily. Doing so will strengthen our faith when we need it most.

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Image credits: (1) Northside Assembly of God (2) CBS New York (3) Chase Oaks Church

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1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace.

We give thanks to God always for all of you,
remembering you in our prayers,
unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love
and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,
before our God and Father,
knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.
For our Gospel did not come to you in word alone,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.
You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake. 
In every place your faith in God has gone forth,
so that we have no need to say anything.
For they themselves openly declare about us
what sort of reception we had among you,
and how you turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead, Jesus,
who delivers us from the coming wrath.

The Word of the Lord.

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Bernard Newman was a soldier in World War One who later wrote about his experience.

One story he told was about his stay in a Bulgarian peasant’s home. Throughout his stay, he noticed his host’s daughter constantly sewing a dress together.

“Do you ever tire of all that sewing?” he asked. “Oh no!” she said. “This will be my wedding dress!”

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She showed Newman that work done out of love isn’t work at all.

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Like that young girl sewing away at her wedding dress, St. Paul has been weaving the Gospel throughout the known world. 

He’s travelled thousands of miles during which he’s been beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and shipwrecked. Yet he shows no signs of slowing down.

In fact, in our first reading, Paul has reached the shores of Greece, where he will begin weaving the Gospel into Europe.

In spite of the exhaustion and danger he faced, how did Paul accomplish so much?

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Because work done out of love isn’t work at all.

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That’s the kind of zeal every Christian should desire.

We should all love talking about Jesus, praying to him, living out his teachings, and telling others about what’s unfolding in our parish.

Because work done out of love, it isn’t work at all.

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St. Paul’s missionary journeys.

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Image credits: (1) Inc. Magazine (2) The Apostle Paul, Rembrandt (3) Amazon.com