27th August 2021, FRIDAY, 21st Week, Ordinary Time.

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Today's Word

Mathew 25: 11-13

Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour*


Today's Reflection  

Psalm 14:1 goes like this: The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are evil; there is no one who does good.

When the Bible uses the word "fool" it implies that the attitude is of one that is against God and it is associated with evil and sin.

For us who profess our belief in God and knowing how much He loves us, then to commit sin and not to obey God is indeed a truly foolish thing.

In the gospel parable, we heard of the 10 bridesmaids, 5 of whom were foolish and the other 5 were sensible.

The 5 foolish bridesmaids were foolish because they didn't bring extra oil and so they were caught unprepared.

A further spiritual reflection would also indicate that they were foolish because they saw what the other sensible bridesmaids did but they either didn't bother or care much about it.

To be sensible, or wise, in the spiritual sense would mean that we know what God wants of us and to do it.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul tells the Thessalonians that what God wants of them is to be holy and not to sin.

When we say that we believe in God, then we must be sensible and wise enough to know what He wants of us.


Resolution

Let us resolve to walk in His ways and grow in wisdom and holiness and live a life that is worthy of God's love.


Today's Saint

St. Monica

We celebrate today the Feast of St Monica, that exemplary mother-saint, who was ever-vigilant in interceding for her child, to get back to the ways of the Lord.

She becomes an example for us to be always be focused on the Lord, be ready for His Graces always, and to wait in patience and hope!

St. Monica’s local bishop would often console her, saying:

“God’s time will come. It is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish.”

Her prayers, authentic Christian witness, and love for her husband and son ultimately triumphed.

Her prayers bore fruit in St Augustine, the Great Doctor of the Church

May her intercession and example inspire us to live authentic and sincere Christian lives, realizing not to postpone our cooperation for salvation to the eleventh hour… instead, may we always keep ready “our lamps” to shine bright for the Lord with the “oil of gladness and love!”

GOD BLESS YOU 

Good morning. Have a nice safe day.

Let's remember all our mothers as we remember St. Monica.