"Therefore, Say Awake

Today's Mass Readings

The point of the parable from today’s Gospel reading is that we each much remain watchful and attentive. In today’s parable, the bridegroom has arrived to begin to seven day joyous wedding celebration which was standard for the Judaism of the time. The young women who did not bring their oil with them will not be able to partake in this joyous occasion. They had not remained watchful and attentive. None of us know when we are going to die. None of us know when our end will come. We must therefore keep watch over our lives to make sure we are following Jesus to the best of our abilities. We want to be invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb after we depart from this world. Let us be like the wise maiden who was prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival. Let us prepare ourselves for our own deaths, for our own entrance to the wedding feast of heaven. Let us be vigilant, lest the Lord find us unprepared to welcome Him.

The letter to the Thessalonians (first reading) gives us three ways in which we can be vigilant for the Lord's coming: a) that we conduct ourselves to please God; b) that we refrain from immorality; and c) we do not take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister.

The last two verses of today's Psalm make an appropriate prayer for this day.

The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.

Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.