Readings For Friday 21st Week In Ordinary Time

Year 2

First Reading
1 Cor 1:17-25

We proclaim Christ crucified, foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, the wisdom of God.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters:
Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel,
   and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
   so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
   but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:

   I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
      and the learning of the learned I will set aside.

Where is the wise one?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?
For since in the wisdom of God
   the world did not come to know God through wisdom,
   it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation
   to save those who have faith.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
   but we proclaim Christ crucified,
   a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
   but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
   and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps. 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11

R. :

R. (5) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
   praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
   with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

For upright is the word of the LORD,
   and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
   of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
   he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
   the design of his heart, through all generations.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Year 1

First Reading
1 Thes 4:1-8

This is the will of God, your holiness.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians

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
97:1 and 2b, 5-6, 10, 11-12

R. :

R. (12a) 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. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

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. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

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. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

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. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!


Gospel Acclamation
Lk 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Mt 25:1-13

Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

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.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.


Homilies / Gospel Reflections




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