First Reading: Wisdom 6:12-16
Wisdom is glorious and never fades away, and she is easily seen by those who love her, and found by those who seek her.
She even goes before those who desire her, so that she first shows herself to them. He who rises early to seek her shall not labor, for he shall find her sitting at his door.
To think upon her is perfect understanding, and he who watches for her shall quickly be secure. For she goes about seeking those who are worthy of her, and she shows herself to them cheerfully on their paths, and meets them with all providence.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Second Reading: First Thessalonians 4:13-18
And we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not sorrow even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have slept through Jesus will God bring with Him.
For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not go before those who have slept. For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with a command, and with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead who are in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ in the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Alleluia: Matthew 24:42a, 44
Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish and five were wise.
But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight there was a cry: Behold the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
The wise answered, saying: Lest there be not enough for us and for you, go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. Now while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answering said: Truly I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, because you do not know the day nor the hour.
Reflection
Wisdom does not hide. She is glorious, she does not fade, she is easily seen by those who love her. If you wake up early to seek her, you will find her sitting at your door.
That thirst is in the psalm today - My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. In a desert land where there is no water, I seek you. Your mercy is better than life itself.
Jesus tells us why that thirst matters. Ten virgins went to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise, five were foolish. All of them fell asleep because the bridegroom was late. The difference was oil. The wise had extra oil in their lamps. When the cry came at midnight - Behold the bridegroom is coming! - only those who were ready could go in, and the door was shut.
Being ready is not about being anxious. It is about keeping your lamp burning every day - through prayer, through mercy, through love. Paul gives us hope: even those who have fallen asleep in Christ will rise, and we shall always be with the Lord. So comfort one another and keep your lamp ready today.
Prayer
Lord, awaken in me a thirst for you. Let me seek your wisdom early, before other desires fill my heart. Keep the lamp of my faith burning with oil through prayer and love, so that when you come, I am ready to meet you. When I miss those who have died, comfort me with the hope of resurrection, that we shall be with you forever. Amen.
Readings are taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible, rendered in modern English for easy reading.
