Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Brothers and sisters,
Therefore, concerning other things, we ask and beg you, in the Lord Jesus, that, just as you have received from us the way in which you ought to walk and to please God, so also may you walk, in order that you may abound all the more.

For you know what precepts I have given to you through the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from fornication, that each one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passions of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God, and that no one should overwhelm or circumvent his brother in business. For the Lord is the vindicator of all these things, just as we have preached and testified to you.

For God has not called us to impurity, but to sanctification.

And so, whoever despises these teachings, does not despise man, but God, who has even provided his Holy Spirit within us.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 97:1 AND 2B, 5-6, 10, 11-12

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!

 

Alleluia – Luke 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 – Matthew 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.”