First Reading (1 Cor 1:17-25).
Reading of the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers, Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel of salvation, without using the art of speech, so as not to deprive the cross of Christ of its own power. The preaching 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 frustrate the insight of the discerning.” Where is the wise man? Where is the teacher of the Law? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God exposed the foolishness of the wisdom of the world? For when the wisdom of God was revealed, the world did not come to know God through wisdom. Therefore, God saw fit to save those who believe through the foolishness of what was preached. The Jews demand signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom, but the Greeks seek wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For what is called foolishness from God is wiser than men, and what is called weakness from God is stronger than men.
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Matthew 25:1-13).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, O Lord.
At that time Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but took no oil with them, but the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps. The bridegroom was delayed, and they all fell asleep. In the middle of the night there was a cry: ‘The bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then the ten maidens got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some oil, because our lamps are going out.’ The wise ones replied, ‘By no means, because there may not be enough oil for us and you. It would be better for you to go and buy some from the vendors.’ While they were going to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast. And the door was shut. Finally the other maidens also came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he answered, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
— The Word of the Savior.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine that you are in a dark room. Suddenly, someone lights a candle. What happens? The darkness cannot resist; it dissipates, even if only around that small flame. This image of light overcoming darkness is at the heart of today’s readings, inviting us to reflect on the nature of divine wisdom and our readiness for the Kingdom of God.
In the first reading, Paul presents us with a fascinating paradox: “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.” What a provocative statement! Paul is turning the entire human notion of wisdom and power upside down.
Think for a moment: What does the world consider “wise”? Maybe it’s accumulating wealth, seeking prestige, or securing power and influence. But Paul tells us that God has chosen to make “the wisdom of the world foolish.” How so?
The cross, the most shameful and painful instrument of execution in the ancient world, becomes the ultimate symbol of God’s love and power. It is through this apparent failure, this apparent weakness, that God demonstrates His incomparable strength. It is through sacrifice, not domination, that God wins the hearts of humanity.
This goes against everything the world teaches us about success and power. It is as if God is saying, “You think you know what strength is? Let me show you the power of sacrificial love. You think you understand what wisdom is? Let me reveal to you the depth of my grace.”
Paul continues, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” What a revolutionary concept! God’s “foolishness”—this seemingly absurd plan to save the world through the death of His Son—surpasses all human wisdom. God’s “weakness”—manifested in Jesus’ vulnerability on the cross—proves to be more powerful than all the forces of evil.
This is the light that shines in the darkness, the candle burning in a dark room. It is a light that challenges our understanding, that invites us to see the world from a new perspective.
And this is where our Gospel reading beautifully intertwines with Paul’s message. Jesus tells us the parable of the ten virgins, five wise and five foolish, all waiting for the bridegroom to come. At first glance, this parable may seem a little strange to us. Why is the bridegroom arriving so late? Why don’t the wise virgins share their oil? But if we look more closely, we will see that Jesus is teaching us a profound lesson about the nature of faith and our readiness for the Kingdom of God. The ten virgins represent all of us, waiting for the coming of Christ. The lamps symbolize our faith, and the oil represents our spiritual preparation, our relationship with God. The bridegroom, of course, is Christ. Notice that all of the virgins fell asleep. This reminds us that all of us can sometimes become complacent in our spiritual journey. The difference is in preparation. The wise virgins had extra oil; they were ready for a long wait. When the bridegroom finally arrives at midnight, there is a division. The wise virgins, with their lamps lit, are ready to enter the wedding feast. The foolish ones, with their lamps unlit, are left outside.
This parable challenges us to ask: Are we truly prepared for Christ’s return? Are our lamps lit, is our faith alive and active? Do we have “extra oil”—a depth of relationship with God that can sustain us even through long periods of waiting or hardship?
This is where Paul’s message and Jesus’ parable come together in a powerful way. True wisdom, true preparation, is not found in accumulating worldly resources or trusting in our own intelligence. It is in embracing the “foolishness” of the cross, in recognizing our total dependence on God, in cultivating a deep and lasting relationship with Him.
The foolish virgins represent those who have only a superficial faith, who have not invested time and effort in their relationship with God. When the crucial moment arrives, they find themselves unprepared.
On the other hand, the wise virgins represent those who embraced God’s wisdom, no matter how “foolish” it may seem to the world. They understood that true preparedness lies not in relying on one’s own resources, but in relying completely on God’s grace.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, what does this mean for us today? How can we be like the wise virgins, keeping our lamps lit and our oil supply full?
First, we must embrace the “foolishness” of the cross. This means rejecting the worldly wisdom that tells us to put ourselves first, and instead choosing the path of sacrificial love. It means finding our strength in the apparent weakness of humility and service.
Second, we must invest in our relationship with God. Just as the wise virgins had extra oil, we must cultivate a spiritual depth that can sustain us in difficult times. This involves regular prayer, studying Scripture, participating in the life of the faith community, and serving others.
Third, we must live in a state of watchful readiness. The parable reminds us that we do not know the day or the hour of Christ’s coming. Each day is an opportunity to live our faith, to shine our light in the world.
Finally, we must remember that we cannot lend our faith to others. The wise virgins could not share their oil because faith is a personal journey. We can and should support one another, but each of us must cultivate our own relationship with God.
Brothers and sisters, may we be like that candle burning in the darkness, shining the light of divine wisdom in an often confused and lost world. May we embrace the “foolishness” of the cross, finding in it the transforming power of God’s love. And may we always be ready, with our lamps lit and our hearts open, for the coming of our Lord.
May the grace of God strengthen us, may the love of Christ inspire us, and may the light of the Holy Spirit continue to shine in us and through us. Amen.
