1 Sep
Fri
21st Week in Ordinary Time
1 Cor. 1:17-25
Ps. 33:1-11
Mt. 25:1-13
(Ps Wk I)
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It is arbitrary to apply the parable to a Community of Sisters. The ten virgins represent all people on earthly life. Nor the even proportion of wise and foolish is to be applied to reality. It would be a cruel insult to say that half of the Sisters in a Community are foolish!

The point of the parable is not vigilance, but foresight: All ten sleep, but only half of them were late to the feast. Otherwise in the Gospels we can read "watch"; but it means "make sure, when the Lord comes, you are ready to meet Him". The early Church believed in the imminent "Parousia", or second coming of the Lord, so the writings of the New Testament insist on this readiness; but history has proved that this coming was not so imminent! The Church as a whole has the mission of readying the World for that day, whenever it comes; and everybody is the Church: we all should join hands in fulfilling this sacred mission, because there is still a lot to do, but without nervous tension. The final victory is guaranteed, when everything is subjected to Christ, and Christ to the Father (1 Cor 15:26); but the process has started, and we should not leave everything for Him to do.



Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That those who use the means of social communication may always do so consciously and responsibly.
Elaboration

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