Reflection for Friday August 31, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:1-13

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.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the advantage of being prepared? You are always ready for what may happen during any time of the day.

In the gospel, Jesus said to his disciples: stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (John 25:13). Indeed, nobody knows the moment of His coming, that’s why it is a must that we always do good. As much as possible we must avoid doing things that would hurt us (sin) and the feelings of others especially to those who are close to us.

It is very easy to say that we will always be prepared for His coming but sometimes it is only lip service without real conviction to do so. We are easily tempted to sin again, to hurt people again, to ignore those who are in need most specially the poor. To be egoistic and have that superiority attitude again. 

We are like that, we are only good for a short period of time then we wrap ourselves again with sin. Why is this so and what must we do to avoid backsliding to our sinful behavior again?

We must have a continuous encounter with Jesus through our attendance at Mass, through the Sacrament of Confession, through our prayers, through reading the Bible and through our visits to the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.

For this is the only way for us to keep ourselves from backsliding into sinfulness again.  Hence, we would always be prepared. – Marino J. Dasmarinas