Friday, August 31, 2018
21st Week in
Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 1 Cor 1:17-25
Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13
This story throws light on what will happen in the king dom of heaven. Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were careless while the others were sensible.
The careless bridesmaids took their lamps as they were and did not bring extra oil. But those who were sensible, brought with their lamps flasks of oil. As the bridegroom delayed, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.
But at midnight, a cry rang out: ‘The bridegroom is here, come out and meet him!’ All the maidens woke up at once and trimmed their lamps. Then the careless ones said to the sensible ones: ‘Give us some oil, for our lamps are going out.’ The sensible ones answered: ‘There may not be enough for both you and us. You had better go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.’
They were out buying oil when the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the wed ding feast, and the doors were shut.
Later the rest of the bridesmaids arrived and called out: ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered: ‘Truly, I do not know you.’
So, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Reading today’s Gospel reminds me of the night I attended a concert. Returning to my residence inside the compound of a local television station where I served as resident chaplain, I had to climb the gate because the guard was asleep. The experience plunged me into deep reflection. While still on earth, gate-crushing can be done because guards can fall asleep. But nobody can gate-crush eternal life.
This is what today’s Gospel parable is all about. The stupid virgins represent those who think they can be saved even without preparation. Learning from the tragic fate of the five stupid virgins, let us stay awake. To stay awake means to live with one’s ultimate destiny in mind. Stephen Covey, author of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People offers this suggestion to executives: “Begin with the end in mind”.
Beginning with the end in mind is like climbing the ladder of life only after making sure the ladder is leaning against the right wall. Some rush their way up their ladder without paying attention to the wall their ladder is leaning against. To what avail is making it to the top only to get to the wrong heights because one has climbed the wrong wall?
If you are one of those rushing up the ladder of life with your ladder leaning against the wrong wall, wake up and come down! It’s never too late to come down and begin anew. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M. Email: [email protected].
May comment ka ba sa column ni Father Dan? May tanong ka ba sa kanya?
I-type ang BANDERA REACT at i-send sa 4467.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Bandera. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.