THE POWER OF GOD…

1 Corinthians 1:17-25 
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.”20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Matthew 25:1-13 

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’9 But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’12 But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: Paul’s apparent negation that he was not send to baptise, is a response to squables that came about, because some members lorded the office of Peter whilst others preffered Paul. 

Frustrated by the factionalism caused by the stupidity of some men who demanded signs whilst others rely on their wisdom, Paul remind the people that they are being saved by Christ Jesus who died on the cross! To be clear, Paul did not invalidate nor call into question the nessesity of baptism, precisely because it is the foundational sign and sacrament whereby a soul is saved!1Pt 3:21

St MATTHEW relay our Lords parable of five of the ten maidens who secured their place to attend the wedding feast, because they had reserved sufficient oil in case the bridegroom was delayed, whereas the other five unwise maidens who did not secure a back-up reserve, found themselves locked out from the wedding feast.

Our Lords parable clearly indicate that that our hope to be ready when He return cannot be sustained by only our prayers! The Holy Sacraments; baptism, confession, Holy Communion and chrism oil that are given us when sick and facing death, are indeed the supernatural fuel that is powered by Christ who shall open the door for us to meet Him, when we pass from this life to the next. If we wilfully do not want to have access to these Holy Sacraments, then our fate will be no different to these foolish maidens who faced a door that was shut! 

LET US PRAY: Psalms 33:1-2,4-5,10-11

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.2 Praise the LORD with the lyre, make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!4 For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nought; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11 The counsel of the LORD stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.