FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME AUGUST 26, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to MT 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.”

REFLECTION

“Those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him”

Vigilance is defined as the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties. I am vigilant when I drive at night, or in an unfamiliar neighborhood, or in getting yearly physical checkups.

When my children were teenagers I was vigilant regarding their behavior, their school work, the people they associated with, their grades. Vigilance is done so as to prevent or not allow a bad thing to happen.

I don't know when I will die. But as I get closer to death, I am aware that I have become more diligent in my prayer life, more watchful for occasions when I can express my love for God, more confessions, daily Mass and adoration hour, and aware of my family who have lost their lamps along the way.

During the different phases of life, during the different phases of sin, I need to be attentive, alert, aware and awake to the devil, flesh and the world. I cannot allow myself to become complacent, comfortable, confused, combative, or cowardly in what I am to do or how I am to react.

Am I full of good will but with time and no sign of the end times, have I become tired of waiting? Have I become tired of loving and being charitable to my family, friends, loved ones, the Church, or strangers that I meet?

God is love and so with love I await His coming. In all I do, love, hope, faith and patience need to be the oils needed to keep my heart aflame for God.

We pray for our priests to refurbish their oils of love for God and neighbor. We need to make their lives stable, free from unnecessary criticism but with respect and genuine desire for their souls to be zealous for God. We offer daily prayers for them. We pray not only for our souls to be intimate with God but that the priests will too have intimacy with God and to show their flock how to get closer to God.

So for now as I enjoy life, I continue to persevere in prayer, learning about God and letting the Holy Spirit direct me and take me to God. Our PAPA website has so many devotions, prayers, blogs, novenas to help us keep our lamps filled with the oil of charity. We also help the struggling children through PAPA Joe and we pray and support life through our PAPA for Life ministry. Fasting, denying ourselves of certain comforts, avoiding praise, avoiding material recompense are some ways of working toward the love needed. Persevere so that LOVE will find us waiting when He comes.

God Bless You.