Meditation for Friday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
(1 Thes 4:1-8; Mt 25:1-13)
Just as silence and noise are close neighbors, so also is wisdom and foolishness! The fence demarcating them is usually not tall enough; it is very easy to cross from one to the other. To avoid such unfortunate switch, St Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to hold firm to the example he left behind and the instructions he gave them in the name of Jesus Christ. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” Anyone who wants to remain on the side of wisdom must abstain from immorality, control his body in holiness and honor. “For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness.”
In the parable of the ten virgins, we see the mingling of the wise and foolish. It is very difficult to know immediately who is wise or foolish. They were all given equal opportunity. They all had good intentions to succeed in their calling. They all made efforts to meet the bridegroom. As we gaze upon them from the cloud of silence in our meditation today, we see how difficult it is for human eyes to perceive wisdom. Then the Bridegroom appears…with royalty, beauty and power! In Him is true and eternal wisdom. It is His presence that separates the wise from the foolish…
That is why we must listen to St Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians and avoid every form of immorality, so that the light of the Holy Spirit will continue to shine in us, and we will always live in the presence of Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom. He is present to us if we preoccupy our minds with self-control, our sanctification and holiness of life. Such a one is found to be wise, for only in Christ Jesus is perfect and everlasting wisdom.
St Monica, pray for us! Amen.
Fr
Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints
Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo,
Ojo, Lagos.
Friday
August 27th, 2021.
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