by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Aug 27, 2022 | Evangelium
Sunday 28 th august 2022
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalter II
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 85: 3, 5
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of mercy to all who call to you.
Collect
God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Ecclesiasticus 3:19-21,30-31
My son, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver. The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly, and then you will find favour with the Lord; for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble. There is no cure for the proud man’s malady, since an evil growth has taken root in him. The heart of a sensible man will reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage’s dream.
Psalm 67(68):4-7,10-11
R/ In your goodness, O God, you prepared a home for the poor.
- The just shall rejoice at the presence of God, they shall exult and dance for joy. O sing to the Lord, make music to his name; rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.
- Father of the orphan, defender of the widow, such is God in his holy place. God gives the lonely a home to live in; he leads the prisoners forth into freedom:
- You poured down, O God, a generous rain: when your people were starved you gave them new life. It was there that your people found a home, prepared in your goodness, O God, for the poor.
Second reading : Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24
What you have come to is nothing known to the senses: not a blazing fire, or a gloom turning to total darkness, or a storm; or trumpeting thunder or the great voice speaking which made everyone that heard it beg that no more should be said to them. But what you have come to is Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ‘first-born son’ and a citizen of heaven. You have come to God himself, the supreme Judge, and been placed with spirits of the saints who have been made perfect; and to Jesus, the mediator who brings a new covenant and a blood for purification which pleads more insistently than Abel’s.
Gospel Acclamation : Jn14:23
Alleluia, alleluia! If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 14:1,7-14
On a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’ Then he said to his host, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May this sacred offering, O Lord, confer on us always the blessing of salvation, that what it celebrates in mystery it may accomplish in power. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 30: 20
How great is the goodness, Lord, that you keep for those who fear you.
Prayer after Communion
Renewed by this bread from the heavenly table, we beseech you, Lord, that, being the food of charity, it may confirm our hearts and stir us to serve you in our neighbour. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Our readings today invite us to cultivate the virtue of humility. In our First Reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus, Sirach teaches us that if we perform our tasks with humility, we will be loved by those whom God accepts. The greater you are, the humbler you should be. (Ecclesiasticus 3:19-21,30-31). Jesus in the Gospel (Luke 14:1,7-14) gives us some practical rules of humility, especially during celebrations. We have the “high table syndrome” in many of our cultures. We live in a stratified society in which some privileged few represent the multitude on a special table get the best of benefits. We are afraid to lose face or status. We connive with an unjust status quo, while pretending to be Christians. Jesus condemns this and teaches us that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted. In many instances in the Bible, Jesus asks us to imitate Children: “Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greater in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt. 18:2-4).
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Aug 26, 2022 | Evangelium
Saturday 27 th august 2022
St. Monica
(331 – 387)
She was born at Thagaste in Africa of a Christian family. She was the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo, who when young was intelligent but weak in morals. With many tears she prayed unceasingly to God for his conversion and her prayers were answered shortly before she died.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Prov 31: 30, 28
The woman who fears the Lord will herself be praised. Her children have called her most blessed, her husband has sung her praises.
Collect
O God, who console the sorrowful and who mercifully accepted the motherly tears of Saint Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine, grant us, through the intercession of them both, that we may bitterly regret our sins and find the grace of your pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Take yourselves for instance, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As Scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.
Psalm 32:12-13,18-21
R/ Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.
- They are happy, whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own. From the heavens the Lord looks forth, he sees all the children of men.
- The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine.
- Our soul is waiting for the Lord. The Lord is our help and our shield. In him do our hearts find joy. We trust in his holy name.
Gospel Acclamation : Ph2:15-16
Alleluia, alleluia! You will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life.Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out. ‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.” ‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.” ‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.” ‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’
Prayer over the Offerings
We bring you these sacrificial gifts, O Lord, to commemorate St. Monica, humbly entreating that they may bestow on us both pardon and salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Mt 13: 45-46
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant who travels in search of fine pearls and who, on finding one of great price, sold everything and bought it.
Prayer after Communion
May the working of this divine Sacrament enlighten and inflame us, almighty God, on this feast day of St. Monica, that we may be ever fervent with holy desires and abound in good works. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
St Matthew instructs us that there are different ways of keeping the memory of the Lord at heart, one that paralyses (fear and dread), and another that releases energies (confidence). The call to vigilance, to keep the memory of the Lord in mind as we await his glorious return, is not an invitation to torture our minds about a probable date, let alone to allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the insecurity of the time or the threats. For none of this will produce any good fruit. The parable of the talents shows us that each of the servants acts according to the image of God that he carries in his heart, and the fruit of his work corresponds to the positive or negative image that he has of his God.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Aug 26, 2022 | Agenda Biblique
SAMEDI 27 AOÛT 2022
Ste Monique
Cette chrétienne d’Afrique romaine, qui obtint par trente ans de patient dévouement la conversion de son mari, païen violent et débauché, avait pour fils aîné Augustin, dont l’inconduite la désolait. Monique (332-387) s’entendu assurer par l’évêque de Milan, saint Ambroise :’’Il n’est pas possible que le fils de tant de larmes périsse’’. Sa prière obtint en effet la conversion d’Augustin, entre les bras de qui elle mourut à Ostie.
Antienne d’ouverture
Sainte Monique fut une femme pleine de sagesse qui sut édifier sa maison et, dans le respect du Seigneur, suivre le droit chemin..
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu très bon, réconfort de ceux qui pleurent, tu accueillais avec amour les larmes de sainte Monique pour la conversion de son fils Augustin; accorde-nous, à la prière de la mère et du fils, de savoir pleurer nos péchés pour obtenir de toi le pardon. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : 1 Co 1,26-31
Frères, vous qui avez été appelés par Dieu, regardez bien : parmi vous, il n’y a pas beaucoup de sages aux yeux des hommes, ni de gens puissants ou de haute naissance. Au contraire, ce qu’il y a de fou dans le monde, voilà ce que Dieu a choisi, pour couvrir de confusion les sages ; ce qu’il y a de faible dans le monde, voilà ce que Dieu a choisi, pour couvrir de confusion ce qui est fort ; ce qui est d’origine modeste, méprisé dans le monde, ce qui n’est pas, voilà ce que Dieu a choisi, pour réduire à rien ce qui est ; ainsi aucun être de chair ne pourra s’enorgueillir devant Dieu. C’est grâce à Dieu, en effet, que vous êtes dans le Christ Jésus, lui qui est devenu pour nous sagesse venant de Dieu, justice, sanctification, rédemption. Ainsi, comme il est écrit : Celui qui veut être fier, qu’il mette sa fierté dans le Seigneur.
Psaume 32,12-13.18-21
R/ Heureux le peuple que le Seigneur s’est choisi pour domaine.
- Heureux le peuple dont le Seigneur est le Dieu, heureuse la nation qu’il s’est choisie pour domaine ! Du haut des cieux, le Seigneur regarde : il voit la race des hommes.
- Dieu veille sur ceux qui le craignent, qui mettent leur espoir en son amour, pour les délivrer de la mort, les garder en vie aux jours de famine.
- Nous attendons notre vie du Seigneur : il est pour nous un appui, un bouclier. La joie de notre cœur vient de lui, notre confiance est dans son nom très saint.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Je vous donne un commandement nouveau, dit le Seigneur: “Aimez-vous les uns les autres, comme je vous ai aimés.” Alléluia.
Évangile : Mt 25, 14-30
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses disciples cette parabole : « Un homme qui partait en voyage appela ses serviteurs et leur confia ses biens. À l’un il remit une somme de cinq talents, à un autre deux talents, au troisième un seul talent, à chacun selon ses capacités. Puis il partit. Aussitôt, celui qui avait reçu les cinq talents s’en alla pour les faire valoir et en gagna cinq autres. De même, celui qui avait reçu deux talents en gagna deux autres. Mais celui qui n’en avait reçu qu’un alla creuser la terre et cacha l’argent de son maître. Longtemps après, le maître de ces serviteurs revint et il leur demanda des comptes. Celui qui avait reçu cinq talents s’approcha, présenta cinq autres talents et dit : “Seigneur, tu m’as confié cinq talents ; voilà, j’en ai gagné cinq autres.” Son maître lui déclara : “Très bien, serviteur bon et fidèle, tu as été fidèle pour peu de choses, je t’en confierai beaucoup ; entre dans la joie de ton seigneur.” Celui qui avait reçu deux talents s’approcha aussi et dit : “Seigneur, tu m’as confié deux talents ; voilà, j’en ai gagné deux autres.” Son maître lui déclara : “Très bien, serviteur bon et fidèle, tu as été fidèle pour peu de choses, je t’en confierai beaucoup ; entre dans la joie de ton seigneur.” Celui qui avait reçu un seul talent s’approcha aussi et dit : “Seigneur, je savais que tu es un homme dur : tu moissonnes là où tu n’as pas semé, tu ramasses là où tu n’as pas répandu le grain. J’ai eu peur, et je suis allé cacher ton talent dans la terre. Le voici. Tu as ce qui t’appartient.” Son maître lui répliqua : “Serviteur mauvais et paresseux, tu savais que je moissonne là où je n’ai pas semé, que je ramasse le grain là où je ne l’ai pas répandu. Alors, il fallait placer mon argent à la banque ; et, à mon retour, je l’aurais retrouvé avec les intérêts. Enlevez-lui donc son talent et donnez-le à celui qui en a dix. Car à celui qui a, on donnera encore, et il sera dans l’abondance ; mais celui qui n’a rien se verra enlever même ce qu’il a. Quant à ce serviteur bon à rien, jetez-le dans les ténèbres extérieures ; là, il y aura des pleurs et des grincements de dents !” »
Prière sur les offrandes
En te présentant, Seigneur, ce sacrifice pour fêter la mémoire de sainte Monique, nous t’adressons notre prière : qu’avec ton pardon il nous apporte le salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 103, 13-15
Le Royaume des cieux est comparable à un négociant qui recherche des perles fines. Ayant trouvé une perle de grande valeur, il va vendre tout ce qu’il possède, et il achète la perle.
Prière après la communion
Que cette eucharistie, Dieu tout- puissant, nous apporte lumière et ferveur en cette fête de sainte Monique : que nos cœurs brûlent toujours du désir de la sainteté, et que notre vie se passe à faire le bien. Par Jésus.
Méditation
La parabole des talents nous renvoie à nous-mêmes, dans la façon de vivre notre vie quotidienne. Elle est une source d’inspiration et de questionnements. Comment développer les dons reçus du Seigneur ? Comment incarner dans nos vies la parole de Dieu ? Quel chemin emprunter pour aller plus loin dans notre cheminement spirituel ? Quels soutiens aller chercher pour répondre aux attentes du maître ? Ce sont autant de questions que les jours qui passent mettent devant nous à telle occasion ou une autre.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Aug 25, 2022 | Agenda Biblique
VENDREDI 26 AOÛT 2022
- Césaire d’Arles,
évêque
En 503, un ancien moine de Lérins, devenu prêtre, puis abbé d’un monastère proche d’Arles, fut élu évêque de cette cité. Césaire (vers 470-543) a été appelé le ‘’précepteur de la Gaule’’. Grand admirateur de saint Augustin, il fut un prédicateur infatigable, à la parole simple, brève et concrète.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 85, 1-3
Écoute, Seigneur, réponds-moi. Sauve, ô mon Dieu, ton serviteur qui compte sur toi. Prends pitié de moi, Seigneur, toi que j’appelle tout le jour.
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu qui peux mettre au cœur de tes fidèles un unique désir, donne à ton peuple d’aimer ce que tu commandes et d’attendre ce que tu promets; Pour qu’au milieu des changements de ce monde, nos cœurs s’établissent fermement là où se trouvent les vraies joies. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : 1 Co 1,17-25
Frères, le Christ, en effet, ne m’a pas envoyé pour baptiser, mais pour annoncer l’Évangile, et cela sans avoir recours au langage de la sagesse humaine, ce qui rendrait vaine la croix du Christ. Car le langage de la croix est folie pour ceux qui vont à leur perte, mais pour ceux qui vont vers leur salut, pour nous, il est puissance de Dieu. L’Écriture dit en effet : Je mènerai à sa perte la sagesse des sages, et l’intelligence des intelligents, je la rejetterai. Où est-il, le sage ? Où est-il, le scribe ? Où est-il, le raisonneur d’ici-bas ? La sagesse du monde, Dieu ne l’a-t-il pas rendue folle ? Puisque, en effet, par une disposition de la sagesse de Dieu, le monde, avec toute sa sagesse, n’a pas su reconnaître Dieu, il a plu à Dieu de sauver les croyants par cette folie qu’est la proclamation de l’Évangile. Alors que les Juifs réclament des signes miraculeux, et que les Grecs recherchent une sagesse, nous, nous proclamons un Messie crucifié, scandale pour les Juifs, folie pour les nations païennes. Mais pour ceux que Dieu appelle, qu’ils soient Juifs ou Grecs, ce Messie, ce Christ, est puissance de Dieu et sagesse de Dieu. Car ce qui est folie de Dieu est plus sage que les hommes, et ce qui est faiblesse de Dieu est plus fort que les hommes.
Psaume 32,1-2.4-5.10-11
R/ Toute la terre, Seigneur, est remplie de ton amour.
- Criez de joie pour le Seigneur, hommes justes ! Hommes droits, à vous la louange ! Rendez grâce au Seigneur sur la cithare, jouez pour lui sur la harpe à dix cordes.
- Oui, elle est droite, la parole du Seigneur ; il est fidèle en tout ce qu’il fait. Il aime le bon droit et la justice ; la terre est remplie de son amour.
- Le Seigneur a déjoué les plans des nations, anéanti les projets des peuples. Le plan du Seigneur demeure pour toujours, les projets de son coeur subsistent d’âge en âge.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia! Restez éveillés et priez en tout temps : ainsi vous pourrez vous tenir debout devant le Fils de l’homme. Alléluia! (cf. Lc 21, 36)
Évangile : Mathieu 25, 1-13
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses disciples cette parabole : « Le royaume des Cieux sera comparable à dix jeunes filles invitées à des noces, qui prirent leur lampe pour sortir à la rencontre de l’époux. Cinq d’entre elles étaient insouciantes, et cinq étaient prévoyantes : les insouciantes avaient pris leur lampe sans emporter d’huile, tandis que les prévoyantes avaient pris, avec leurs lampes, des flacons d’huile. Comme l’époux tardait, elles s’assoupirent toutes et s’endormirent. Au milieu de la nuit, il y eut un cri : “Voici l’époux! Sortez à sa rencontre. Alors toutes ces jeunes filles se réveillèrent et se mirent à préparer leur lampe. Les insouciantes demandèrent aux prévoyantes : “Donnez-nous de votre huile, car nos lampes s’éteignent.” Les prévoyantes leur répondirent : “Jamais cela ne suffira pour nous et pour vous, allez plutôt chez les marchands vous en acheter.” Pendant qu’elles allaient en acheter, l’époux arriva. Celles qui étaient prêtes entrèrent avec lui dans la salle des noces, et la porte fut fermée. Plus tard, les autres jeunes filles arrivèrent à leur touret dirent : “Seigneur, Seigneur, ouvre-nous !” Il leur répondit : “Amen, je vous le dis : je ne vous connais pas.” Veillez donc car vous ne savez ni le jour ni l’heure. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Par l’unique sacrifice de la Croix, tu t’es donné, Père très bon, un peuple de fils ; Accorde-nous, dans ton Église, la grâce de l’unité et de la paix. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 103, 13-15
Seigneur, tu as créé de quoi rassasier le monde entier: tu fais produire à la terre le pain, et le vin qui réjouit le cœur des hommes.
Prière après la communion
Que ta miséricorde, Seigneur, agisse en nous et nous guérisse entièrement; Transforme-nous, par ta grâce, et rends-nous si généreux que nous puissions te plaire en toute chose. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Le chrétien ne vit pas avec le calendrier dans les mains, essayant de découvrir le jour où le Seigneur viendra, non ! Plutôt, nous vivons avec une boussole qui nous indique la route à suivre. Peu importe quand arrivera le jour de la mort, dans une semaine ou dans plusieurs années, nous serons prêts à rencontrer le Seigneur, avec l’huile de la charité comme réserve pour nos lampes. Nous sommes donc appelés à agir maintenant, à ne pas gaspiller le temps qui nous est donné. Qu’attends-tu ?
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Aug 25, 2022 | Evangelium
Friday 26 th august 2022
Blessed Dominic Barberi
(1792 – 1849)
He was born near Viterbo, Italy, in 1792 and joined the Passionist Order. He worked as a missionary in England. Blessed Dominic was noted for the personal warmth of his approach to non-Catholics and for his zeal in preaching; he drew crowds in spite of his strong Italian accent. Blessed Dominic died at Reading in 1849.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 85: 1-3
Turn your ear, O Lord, and answer me; save the servant who trusts in you, my God. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.
Collect
O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed. The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save. As Scripture says: I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing all the learning of the learned. Where are the philosophers now? Where are the Scribes? Where are any of our thinkers today? Do you see now how God has shown up the foolishness of human wisdom? If it was God’s wisdom that human wisdom should not know God, it was because God wanted to save those who have faith through the foolishness of the message that we preach. And so, while the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Psalm 32:1-2,4-5,10-11
R/ The Lord fills the earth with his love.
- Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts. Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp, with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.
- For the word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted. The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love.
- He frustrates the designs of the nations, he defeats the plans of the peoples. His own designs shall stand for ever, the plans of his heart from age to age.
Gospel Acclamation : cf.Ps129:5
Alleluia, alleluia! My soul is waiting for the Lord,I count on his word. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus told this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, “The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.” At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.” But they replied, “There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves.” They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. “Lord, Lord,” they said “open the door for us.” But he replied, “I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.” So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O Lord, who gained for yourself a people by adoption through the one sacrifice offered once for all, bestow graciously on us, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace in your Church. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 103: 13-15
The earth is replete with the fruits of your work, O Lord; you bring forth bread from the earth and wine to cheer the heart.
Prayer after Communion
Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us, so that in all things we may please you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“ Stay awake “ does not directly concern prayer. We are not here in a strictly religious context, but in a concrete and practical situation that concerns everyone, believers and non-believers alike. It is vigilance that is at stake here, that permanent attention to reality, to which those who have a taste for living and serving well naturally devote themselves. The vigilance of the wise women is opposed here to the negligence of fools. It is not a question of a simple oversight on the part of the latter – which would then have to be excused – but of a voluntary act, a posture, a refusal to collaborate. They have nothing to expect, no one to serve.
