DIDACHE
A CHANNEL OF GOD’S HELP
She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men’s desire. – Wisdom 6:13
As I write this, I am amazed at how God has continued to use me in unexpected ways — mostly to meet other people’s needs.
At a time when there was not even a hint of publishing non-book products, the idea of an inspirational perpetual calendar popped into my head. A few months later, the idea was put to good use when our company president asked us to think of other products to sell. With Bo’s approval, the idea turned into reality.
Another time, I got a call from one of our counselors. A counselee wanted to apply as a writer in our publication. We weren’t hiring, so I just told her to let the person send in her resume. A few weeks later, I overheard our events organizer and her boss discussing about a need to hire a marketing person. Suddenly, I remembered the person, whose redentials met their needs. Last I heard she’s about to start working for our events group.
There have been numerous instances of this kind in my life. Call it serendipity, but I believe the Holy Spirit knows what God’s people need even before we’re aware of it, and uses other people to channel His help. Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com)
REFLECTION:
How open and sensitive am I to the leadings of the Holy Spirit?
Lord, make me more sensitive to Your promptings in my life. I offer myself to be used as a channel of Your help for other people.
COMPANION
1st READING
Here, wisdom is personified as a wise counselor who seeks to help and guide us. Wisdom, if we value her, will watch over our plans and help us make them successful . She will prevent us from rushing impetuously into plans and schemes that are ill considered and imprudent.
Wisdom 6:12-16
12 Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. 13 She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men’s desire; 14 he who watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate. 15 For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and he who for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care; 16 because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude.
P S A L M
Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
1 [2] O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R) 2 [3] Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, 3 [4] for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R) 4 [5] Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. 5 [6] As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R) 6 [7] I will remember you upon my couch, and through the night watches I will meditate on you: 7 [8] you are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. (R)
2nd READING
Some Christians at Thessalonica had the mistaken idea that the Lord had already come and they were afraid that they had been left behind. St. Paul makes it clear that the Lord will come in power with His angels and those who are alive when He returns will be caught up in the air and not taste death. The dead will hear His voice and rise to eternal life. This is one of the great consolations that we have as Christians — that we shall share eternal life with God in our resurrected and perfected bodies.
1Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, console one another with these words.
G O S P E L
Oil is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Bible and in the sacraments of the Church. The parable of the Virgins teaches us the need to continue to let the Holy Spirit animate our lives. We need to stay alert and vigilant, or we may miss the moment of His coming and be found unprepared. By our daily prayer and spiritual exercises, the light of faith and love can continue to burn in our hearts.
ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Matthew 25:1-13
1 Jesus told his disciples this parable: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, 4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 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.’ 10 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. 11 Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 12 But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
my reflections
t h i n k : By our daily prayer and spiritual exercises, the light of faith and love can continue to burn in our hearts.
God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Matthew 13-16
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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SABBATH
ARE YOU READY?
The wedding ceremony in the Jewish culture is a very elaborate celebration and often drawn out. Normally, the celebration would occur in the house of the bride’s father. The virgins, unmarried young women, would keep watch for the bridegroom’s arrival. At a moment’s notice, they should be ready to inform the bride of his arrival. The torches were long poles with oil-drenched rags on top. Charred ends of the rags were cut and trimmed. One needed to have plenty of oil to keep it burning, usually replenished every 15 minutes.
The whole point of the story is that we must keep watch and stay awake because we do not know when the Lord will come again. The bridegroom is late in his arrival and so naturally, the virgins fell asleep. They all became drowsy. When the call of the bridegroom’s arrival came, there was much panic. Trimming their lamps, the foolish ones realized they had no more oil left. They sought favor from the others but the wise virgins were in a predicament because it would mean they too would be lacking. When they hurried off to the merchants in the middle of the night, they returned with the door closed on them. The trouble was that they were not ready.
We must always be vigilant and keep the oil in our lamp burning. Every one of us has a responsibility to keep our torches (faith) lit with the oil (charity). By our good deeds, we will meet the Lord as soon as He arrives and takes us to Himself. The oil is the charity, the love expressed in faith through our actions. It would be a terrible thing to find at the Lord’s coming the door closed on us. Once locked, it cannot be opened. The great shame is that these women were there all along, waiting. It was because of their unprepared resources that they missed out. If only they had the resources, the joy would have been theirs to celebrate. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL
Reflection Question:
How are you keeping the oil burning?
Lord, I pray for the grace to be vigilant, watchful and waiting for the hour of Your coming. Amen.
St. Barlaam, pray for us.
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