Friday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Thes 4:1-8
Brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God– and as you are conducting yourselves– you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God; not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who also gives His Holy Spirit to you.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 97:1 and 2b, 5-6, 10, 11-12 (R.12a)
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of His throne. R.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim His justice,
and all peoples see His glory. R.
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
He guards the lives of His faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked He delivers them. R.
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. R.
Gospel – Mt 25:1-13
Jesus told His disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 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.’ 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. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Featured Saints
Featured Saints
St. Verena, virgin (†fourth century). Born in Egypt, she settled in the region of Zurzach, in present-day Switzerland, where she spent the rest of her life caring for the poor and lepers. Her tomb became a famous centre of pilgrimage, where a monastery was later built.
St. Joshua. Son of Nun. After the death of Moses, of whom he was a disciple, he brought the people of Israel into the Promised Land.
St. Lupus of Sens, bishop (†c. 623). He was exiled for having courageously affirmed before a local dignitary that people should be guided by the priest and obey God more than princes.
Blessed Jane Soderini, virgin (†1367). Third Order Servite who died in Florence, Italy. She was a disciple of St. Juliana Falconieri.
St. Giles (Gilles), abbot (†6th/7th century). The city of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, France, where he built a monastery (of which he was abbot), was named after him.
Blessed Juliana of Collalto, abbess (†1262). From a noble family, she took the Benedictine habit at the age of 12. She founded the Monastery of St. Blaise, in Venice, where she was abbess.
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