MASS READING: Sunday, 29th November 2020

FIRST READING

A reading from the prophet Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1. 3-8

Oh that you would tear the heavens open and some down.

You, Lord, yourself are our Father,

Our Redeemer is your ancient name.

Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways

and harden our hearts against fearing you?

Return, for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your inheritance.

Oh that you would tear the heavens open and some down

– at your Presence, such as no one has ever heard of before.

No ear has heard,

no eye has seen

any god but you act like this

for those who trust him.

You guide those who act with integrity

and keep your ways in mind.

You were angry when we were sinners;

we had long been rebels against you.

We were all like men unclean,

all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing.

We have all withered like leaves

and our sins blew us away like the wind.

No one invoked your name

or roused himself to catch hold of you.

For you hid your face from us

and gave us up to the power of our sins.

And yet, Lord, you are our Father;

we the clay, you the potter,

we are all the work of your hand.

The Word of the Lord.FIRST READING

A reading from the prophet Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1. 3-8

Oh that you would tear the heavens open and some down.

You, Lord, yourself are our Father,

Our Redeemer is your ancient name.

Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways

and harden our hearts against fearing you?

Return, for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your inheritance.

Oh that you would tear the heavens open and some down

– at your Presence, such as no one has ever heard of before.

No ear has heard,

no eye has seen

any god but you act like this

for those who trust him.

You guide those who act with integrity

and keep your ways in mind.

You were angry when we were sinners;

we had long been rebels against you.

We were all like men unclean,

all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing.

We have all withered like leaves

and our sins blew us away like the wind.

No one invoked your name

or roused himself to catch hold of you.

For you hid your face from us

and gave us up to the power of our sins.

And yet, Lord, you are our Father;

we the clay, you the potter,

we are all the work of your hand.

The Word of the Lord.  

Responsorial Psalm  Ps 79

Response: God of hosts, bring us back;

let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

1. O shepherd of Israel, hear us,

shine forth from your cherubim throne.

O Lord, rouse up your might,

O Lord, come to our help.

2. God of hosts, turn again, we implore,

look down from heaven and see.

Visit this vine and protect it,

the vine your right hand has planted.

3. May your hand be on the man you have chosen,

the man you have given your strength.

And we shall never forsake you again:

give us life that we may call upon your name.

SECOND READING

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 1:3-9

We are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and

peace.

I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received

through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in

so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the

witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you

will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are

waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep

you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our

Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his

Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.

The Word of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation Ps 84:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 13:33-37

Stay awake, because you never know when the time will come

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when

the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone

from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task;

and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake.

So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the

house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes

unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I

say to all: Stay awake!’

The Gospel of the Lord.

MASS REFLECTION: Sunday, 29th November 2020

IS 63:16B-17,19B; 64:2-7; PS 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 COR: 1:3-9; MK 13:33-37

Today we begin the beautiful and holy season of Advent. With all that we have going on this time of year, it’s no wonder that Advent doesn't always seem to get the attention it deserves. But if we will commit to living this season well, we will experience a deeper conversion to Christ and find real transformation in our lives as Christian stewards.

Why? Advent calls us not only to look back in grateful contemplation of Christ’s first coming, but it also calls us to look forward in preparation for His Second Coming. Advent is a time to reset and regroup, to repent over any misplaced priorities, to turn our minds and hearts back to God while we still have time. We do so not out of fear or guilt, but out of gratitude for Love Incarnate lying in a manger bed.

We can take as our theme for this season the words of the Prophet Isaiah in our First Reading. “You Lord, are our Father, our redeemer you are named forever… Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!” The passage ends with this verse, which is especially meaningful to the Christian steward: “We are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands.” In other words, our lives are not about us — rather, they are a gift to be used to glorify God and serve others.

In our Second Reading, from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, we are reminded of how extravagantly God has gifted each one of us. “You were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge… so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let us embrace these Advent days to recommit to stewarding our spiritual gifts well. This will look different for each individual, of course. Perhaps a family can commit to setting up an Advent wreath and taking 10 minutes to reflect on the daily Gospel. Someone else may choose to be intentional in checking on a lonely neighbor each day to bring God’s love to them consistently. Maybe some will be inspired to scale back their usual gift-giving and donate that saved money to those in dire need right now.

Whatever we feel God calling us to do, there is no time to waste. Jesus makes this strikingly clear in our Gospel passage from Matthew through the parable of a man going off on a journey. Before he leaves, he “places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.” We, of course, are the servants in this parable, each with a mission to accomplish in building the Kingdom of God. Jesus warns us over and over in this passage to remain attentive to the work He has given us to do because we do not know when we will be called to give an account for it. “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” 

Our lives are a gift. This holy season is a gift. Let us awaken if we have grown weary or complacent, and recommit to living the stewardship way of life. Love came down to us as a Baby. And He is coming again. Be watchful!

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 22nd November 2020

EZ 34:11-12, 15-17; PS 23:1-3, 5-6; 1 COR 15:20-26, 28; MT 25:31-46

Today we come to the end of the liturgical year, celebrating the magnificent feast of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Our readings provide contrasting images of this King of ours — He has authority over all, and yet, He is humble and tender in His care for us, especially the most vulnerable. How can we properly honor and love such a King? By offering Him our very lives through the stewardship way of life.

Our First Reading, from Ezekiel, describes our Lord as a tender shepherd who knows his flock intimately and actively seeks to heal and save us. “Thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep… I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest… The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” Such love is impossible to fully comprehend. All we can do is marvel at the greatness of our God and resolve to thank Him by giving Him the very best of ourselves — our time, our talents, our treasure — and by imitating His love as best we can.

The Second Reading demonstrates that humble as He is, Jesus Christ is indeed King of all, having authority over all, both individuals and nations, both the material world and the spiritual world. He will restore all things and all people to proper order “when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” As intimately as we are called to love our King, so too, must we revere and respect His authority over us. We must be ever mindful that everything we have, every breath we take, is a gift from this all-powerful King. In justice, then, we must give Him His due. 

What is it that He expects from us? The Gospel passage from Matthew shows us. The passage begins with Christ’s own description of His Second Coming, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.” Then the moment of judgment will come. Some will be invited into the Kingdom of Heaven — the others to eternal punishment. 

This judgment will be based not on how influential we became in society, how high we climbed the corporate ladder, nor any “worldly” achievements, in fact. Rather our judgment will be based on how we treated the last of those around us, whom Jesus calls His brothers. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” To make His point very clear, Jesus gives specifics — feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, showing hospitality to the stranger, caring for the ill and imprisoned. These are the priorities of our King. And these must be our priorities, too.

The more deeply we embrace the stewardship way of life, the more closely our priorities will align with His. This way of life prepares us well for our judgment day and helps us to live in imitation of our King right now. 

Mass Reading: Sunday, 22nd November 2020

First reading
Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17
The Lord will judge between sheep and sheep

The Lord says this: I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view. As a shepherd keeps all his flock in view when he stands up in the middle of his scattered sheep, so shall I keep my sheep in view. I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered during the mist and darkness. I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest – it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them.

    As for you, my sheep, the Lord says this: I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and he-goats.

The word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22(23):1-3a,5-6

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;
  there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
  where he gives me repose.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Near restful waters he leads me,
  to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path;
  he is true to his name.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a banquet for me
  in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
  my cup is overflowing.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
  all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
  for ever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

 

 Second reading

1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28 ·
Christ will hand over the kingdom to God the Father; so that God may be all in all

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet. And when everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subject in his turn to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all.

The word of the Lord.

 Gospel Acclamation     Mk11:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David!

Alleluia!

 

 Gospel
Matthew 25:31-46
I was naked and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

    ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

    ‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”

    ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 15th November 2020

PRV 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; PS 128:2-5; 1 THES 5:1-6; MT 25:14-30

Today’s readings challenge us to live not for the "here and now," but rather with eternity in mind. We are reminded that we will be called one day to give an account for the gifts God has given us — our physical, intellectual and material gifts — as well as the gift of time itself. We must examine our lives to determine whether we are making the best use of our gifts with the time we have been given to use them.

St. Paul gives us a wonderful lens through which to do this type of self-examination, in our Second Reading from 1 Thessalonians. He reminds us of our true identity as disciples of Christ. “All of you are... children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.” We are to live in a way that is counter to the prevailing wisdom, living not for ourselves and for the pleasure of immediate gratification, but rather to advance the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus illustrates this Kingdom-oriented way of living in our Gospel passage from Matthew. He tells the story — commonly known as the Parable of the Talents —  of a wealthy man who is about to go on a journey. Before he leaves, the man calls his three servants to “entrust his possessions to them.” This should sound familiar. As Christian stewards, we know that all the gifts we have been given are, in truth, the possessions of our Heavenly Father, who has entrusted them to us for our good and His glory. 

The master in our parable gives to the care of each servant a portion of his money (“talent”) commensurate with that servant’s abilities. He then goes off and we learn what those three servants do with the talents they have been given. The first two prove to be good and faithful servants — they “immediately” put the talents to use, doubling what had been entrusted to them. The third servant reacted to this responsibility with fear. He did not make an effort to use the talent entrusted him. In fact, he did the opposite — he hid the master’s talent, burying it in the ground. He took the safe way, the easy way out.

What a tragic response!

This servant did not understand his master at all. He failed to see what a privilege he had been given, what an opportunity he had squandered. The master wanted to give all his servants the joy and satisfaction of helping him grow his kingdom. This is what our Heavenly Father wants for us, too — the incredible privilege of helping to advance the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Let us embrace the stewardship way of life, using all the gifts entrusted to us — Time, Talents and Treasure — in such a way that at the end of our life on this earth, we will hear these words from our Father: “Well done, my good and faithful servant… Come, share your master’s joy.”

 

Mass Readings: Sunday, 15th November 2020

First reading

Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31 A perfect wife - who can find her? A perfect wife – who can find her?

  She is far beyond the price of pearls.
Her husband’s heart has confidence in her,
  from her he will derive no little profit.
Advantage and not hurt she brings him
  all the days of her life.
She is always busy with wool and with flax,
  she does her work with eager hands.
She sets her hands to the distaff,
  her fingers grasp the spindle.
She holds out her hand to the poor,
  she opens her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty;
  the woman who is wise is the one to praise.
Give her a share in what her hands have worked for,
  and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 127(128):1-5

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord
  and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat.
  You will be happy and prosper.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
  in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive,
  around your table.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Indeed thus shall be blessed
  the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion
  all the days of your life!

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Second reading

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 ·

God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus

You will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about ‘times and seasons’, since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, ‘How quiet and peaceful it is’ that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it.

  But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.

The word of the Lord.

 

Gospel Acclamation      Rv2:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Even if you have to die, says the Lord,
keep faithful, and I will give you
the crown of life.

Alleluia!

Or   Jn15:4,5

Alleluia, alleluia!

Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
Whoever remains in me bears fruit in plenty.

Alleluia!

  

EITHER:

Gospel

Matthew 25:14-30

You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master's happiness

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.

  ‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

  ‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”

  ‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”

  ‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”

  ‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’ 

OR Alternative  Gospel

Matthew 25:14-15,19-21

You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master's happiness

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.

  ‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 08th November 2020

WIS 6:12-16; PS 63:2-8; 1 THES 4:13-18 OR 4:13-14; MT 25:1-13

Wisdom is a central theme in our readings today. It is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and it is key to living the stewardship way of life in our complex world. As Christian stewards, we should rely on this gift and ask the Holy Spirit to increase it within us.

Our First Reading is taken from the very Book of Wisdom. It instructs, “Taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and whoever for her [that is, wisdom’s] sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care.” How does the seeking of wisdom — not worldly wisdom, but the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit — “free us from care”? It causes us to rely on God to lead and guide us. This is indeed a freeing way to approach life, removing the pressure from us to have all the answers — because the truth is, we don’t. The world is too complicated and unpredictable. The Christian steward can rest in the power of the Holy Spirit to help us navigate any situation.

No situation is more complex (or painful) than death, a subject that St. Paul takes on in our Second Reading from his letter to the Thessalonians. Paul teaches us to be wise in our attitude towards death — our own and that of our loved ones. He advises that we not be “unaware… about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” This is both comforting and sobering. It reminds us that death does not have the final word, because Jesus has conquered even death. But it also calls to mind the inevitability of death. We are wise stewards if we live our lives with this truth in mind, setting priorities that will keep us ready to face our judgment day.

Jesus makes this point very explicitly in our Gospel passage from Matthew. He tells the parable of ten virgins awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom who will welcome them in to the wedding feast. Five of the virgins were foolish and five were wise. The foolish virgins failed to bring oil along with their lamps when they went to meet the bridegroom. The wise ones, however, had prepared and brought sufficient oil to keep their lamps lit when the bridegroom came. The foolish virgins, caught off guard, ran off to buy more oil, but they were too late. The door to the wedding feast was locked to them. Jesus cautions, “Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” 

The stewardship way of life — with its daily and weekly commitments to giving God the best of our Time, Talents and Treasure — is the “oil” that we keep with us at all times. When we have this plan in place and we rely deeply on the Holy Spirit to guide us through the twists and turns of each day, we are free, we are ready to answer the Bridegroom when He calls us. We live in wisdom.

Mass Readings: Sunday, 8th November 2020

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of Wisdom 6:12-16

Wisdom is found by those who look for her.

Wisdom is bright, and does not grow dim.

By those who love her she is readily seen,

and found by those who look for her.

Quick to anticipate those who desire her,

she makes herself known to them.

Watch for her early and you will have no trouble;

you will find her sitting at your gates.

Even to think about her is understanding fully grown;

be on the alert for her and anxiety will quickly leave you.

She herself walks about looking for those who are worthy of her

and graciously shows herself to them as they go,

in every thought of theirs coming to meet them.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 62

Response: For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

1. O God, you are my God, for you I long;

for you my soul is thirsting.

My body pines for you

like a dry, weary land without water.

2. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,

my lips will speak your praise.

3. So I will bless you all my life,

in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,

my mouth shall praise you with joy.

4. On my bed I remember you.

On you I muse through the night

for you have been my help;

in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

SECOND READING

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 4:13-18

God will bring them with him those who have died in Jesus.

We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have

died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the

other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and

rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in

Jesus: God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the

Lord’s own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the

Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have

died. At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call

out the command and the Lord himself will come down from

heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and

then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds,

together with them; to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay

with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should

comfort one another.

The Word of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation Mt 24:42

Alleluia, alleluia!

Stay awake and stand ready, because you do not know the hour

when the Son of Man is coming.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 25:1-13

The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.

Jesus told this parable to his disciples:

‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their

lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were

foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps,

but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil

as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew

drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, “The

bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.” At this, all those

bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish

ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps

are going out”. But they replied, “There may not be enough for us

and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some

for yourselves”. They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom

arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding

hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later.

“Lord, Lord,” they said “open the door for us.” But he replied, “I tell

you solemnly, I do not know you”. So stay awake, because you do

not know either the day or the hour.

The Gospel of the Lord.