1 Corinthians 1:17-25, Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11, Matthew 25:1-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

Be vigilant at all times and pray, that you may have strength to stand

before the Son of Man. Lk 21:36

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-25, Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11, Matthew 25:1-13

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-25

 

My soul's beloved, as Paul reminds us so eloquently today, we care called to preach the Gospel in such a way that the power and glory of the Cross on which You were so brutally crucified would not be emptied of its meaning. It is through the power of the Cross that we receive forgiveness of sin, for sin was nailed to it in order to set us free.  The world strives to rid itself of it and they want no reminders as they regulate and put into effect laws that would remove this symbol of our faith from our walls and anywhere else where it may be visible to people.

 

The Cross as the power to convict us of sin and the world prefers to go about its merry way steeped in it spreading a false gospel that happiness is found in hedonism and in self-gratification no matter how abasing to themselves and to others. Innocence was nailed to the Cross and we strive in every way to rid ourselves of it. Even children are not spared.

 

The people we follow in this world so avidly and who shape the morals and culture in which we live are the ones we set up as the arbiters of truth.  We believe the lies and the propaganda because it panders to our sins and our weaknesses.  Our morals are flaccid. The wisdom of the world will take us straight to the place of the damned and the eternal fire that never goes out.

 

The chosen people of God rejected You because they were not able to get ride of their human perception of how the Messiah would come into the world. You did not fit their expectation of a Messiah and so they rejected You so completely they were prepared to and did commit deicide. Those in the world who consider themselves wise and knowledgeable reject You because You do their textbook idea of what a God should be or because they believe the theories that God does not exist based on false premises.  St. Paul says, "Jews demand signs." Yet they rejected the greatest Sign of all, the Sign of the Cross. The Gentiles rejected You because their notion of God in no way fit the description of 'Christ and Him crucified'. But we are assured that the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. As You have reminded me in Your Word for today, that whoever believes in You, though he die, shall live and whoever believes in You will never die.

 

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

 

My soul's beloved, You are visible to all who desire too You. Your glorious imprint is on all the good things in the world. We look at all that is beautiful in our world and our hearts, minds and souls are raised to You and move us to give You praise, worship, thanksgiving and honor. You are worthy of praise and people in every age, culture, and nation have been moved to sing and make music because they have experienced You in the beauty of all that was visible around them.

 

Your word has the power to strike like a lightning bold and brings clarity and vision where once there was darkness, blindness and error through sin. All Your works tell of Your goodness, Your power and display Your majesty. From generation to generation people have experienced Your goodness, tenderness, mercy, compassion and love.  We thank You for Your assurance that no matter how hard evil may endeavor to claim what belongs to You, .

 

Matthew 25:1-13

 

My soul's beloved, in today's Gospel passage we are exhorted to be vigilant, to stay aware, to be alert, to remain awake for we do not know when we will be called from this life to the next. We are told the parable of the ten virgins five were wise and five foolish. The wise were prepared, they anticipated the possibility that there could be a delay in the arrival of the Bridegroom whereas the foolish ones were too caught up in the excitement of the moment and made no provision for themselves in case of necessity. There was a delay.  He did not come as quickly as they thought he would and they slept.

 

We have been waiting for over 2000 years for Your glorious return. Many have become indifferent and have fallen asleep unprepared to meet You and to them the door is closed.  The world is indifferent. The longer we wait, the longer the world makes You out to be a myth, a farce, a legend, a story for children and for idiots. But we cannot,we dare not be caught unprepared for at an hour we least expect it we will be called and we would have run out of excuses as the foolish ones ran out of oil and we will find that when You our Bridegroom arrives and shuts the door no amount of weeping and wailing will help to open it. Grant O Lord that while I still have today that I may be awake, and vigilant for Your coming.