Thinking About Death

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 154
Reading 1
Wis 6:12-16
Resplendent and unfading is wisdom,
and she is readily perceived by those who love her,
and found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire;
Whoever watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed,
for he shall find her sitting by his gate.
For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence,
and whoever for her sake keeps vigil
shall quickly be free from care;
because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her,
and graciously appears to them in the ways,
and meets them with all solicitude.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
I will remember you upon my couch,
and through the night-watches I will meditate on you:
You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
1 Thes 4:13-18
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus,
bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive,
who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,
will come down from heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words.
Alleluia
Mt 24:42a, 44
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake and be ready!
For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 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."

[@micook3204]

People so lucky to be living close to your parish, you are the priest that Gift from GOD. I wish we have one here, I always pray for that.🙏✝️😇

[@user-wl5xg2ur4n]

Thanks Fr. Preparing for death is essential. Contious, like daily examination of conscious, repentance and good deeds. Helps us dear Lord

[@Caritasaveritas]

We buried my daughter a few weeks ago. When she was little “When I lay me down to sleep…” was one of our bedtime prayers after the rosary. Everything counts. It’s all real. The oil is sacramental - it’s grace. Death is a threshold, a separation. We all will one day be separated from our lives here. At that threshold, we cling to Our Lord and Our Lady. Nothing else matters. 🔥 ♥️

[@Hope20249]

Remembering your family in my prayers. God bless you and keep you.

[@Caritasaveritas]

@@Hope20249 Thank you so much. Her little girls (6 yo, 4yo, 8 mo) will have different life without her.. So will I💕

[@Caritasaveritas]

@@Hope20249 Thank you so much for the prayers.

[@user-wl5xg2ur4n]

May God hold you close dear.

[@PC-ze2xk]

So very sorry for your loss! Prayers for you! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😢😢😢

[@Hope20249]

Thank you Father. God bless.

[@irenedsouza794]

Thank you fr Mark Bernhard 🙏 for your great homily talk fr 🙏 👏 have a blessed day ✨️ .

[@samiaaoun9337]

Thank you father Mark for this wake up call sermon😇Being prepared for this moment is the essence of my raison d'etre🙏God bless you father🕯🕯🕯

[@kwkw5711]

Number your days aright so you may live well.