Servant of the Word: Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

“St. Augustine in His Cell”
by Sandro Botticelli, 1490-94

Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Augustine

Readings for Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time [1][2]

Commentary:

Commentary on 1 Thes 4:1-8

In this passage from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians the Apostle exhorts the community of faith to increase their efforts to reject sexual immorality. (This would be a change for many since sexual promiscuity was acceptable in the pagan norms from which many of the community had come). He reminds them that they are called to a higher standard of behavior than the pagans who are, by his inference, hedonistic and promiscuous in this regard. He also tells them that if they ignore this standard they are not just ignoring him (Paul) but God who sent him.

CCC: 1 Thes 4:7 2518, 2813

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

This song of thanksgiving rejoices in the casting down of the idol worshipers. The hedonistic practices of the pagans, with whom the tribes of

Israel

were in constant contact, were a source of constant temptation of the faithful. The tone of the song upholds those who adhere to God’s Law.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

Commentary on Mt 25:1-13

St. Matthew’s Gospel gives us the parable of the Ten Virgins continuing the Gospel theme of preparedness and vigilance (although strictly speaking this parable is about foresight). In this story the idea of vigilance is expanded to include being prepared. The Jewish wedding customs of the time would have dictated a procession [at night] from the house of the bride to the house of the groom. The whole act is symbolic of the coming of the messianic era also portrayed as a wedding in Matthew 9:15, Matthew 22:1-14 and John 3:29. The wise virgins brought oil for their lamps while the foolish ones did not. The oil is interpreted by some scholars to refer to good works.

The overarching symbolism is the lamp of faith (light of the indwelling Holy Spirit) being kept burning with oil (good works). Hence without good works (oil) the lamp will not continue to burn (James 2:17) and the virgins so deprived of light are excluded from the heavenly kingdom.

CCC: Mt 25:1-13 672, 796; Mt 25:1 672; Mt 25:6 1618; Mt 25:13 672

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflection:

The vigilance theme from St. Matthew’s Gospel and the action which suggests itself in response to that call is to love one another. That call also comes from St. Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians. The Apostle makes clear the kind of love he is speaking about.

Today we are again told in the Gospel to remain vigilant and prepared. This time, however, St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians deals with sexual morality among the members of the community of faith. He nicely differentiates between love and lust, calling the community to look for sacramental love in entering into the married state, not simply physical infatuation.

His instruction, while clearly something to which couples who are contemplating marriage should listen carefully, contains a broader message as well. In a secular society that seems to find sexual promiscuity acceptable and something rejoiced over and encouraged by the media, we are called to a higher standard. The modern day pagans worship the God’s of hedonism, lust, self-indulgence, and greed, we are called to worship the one true God who tells us that victory does not mean beating another person or winning some monetary prize but in serving others and loving our neighbor. Success does not mean driving a big car but bringing others to Christ.

If one reads the Confessions of St. Augustine who was born in the fourth century (354-430) it is clear that these temptations of the flesh have always been with us. The good news is that the invitation to holiness, as St. Augustine’s life testifies, is always being extended. The journey may be interrupted but there is always a way for ward, a way toward the light. True Christian hope has its roots in that invitation and promise. St. Matthew’s parable is a reminder for those of us who procrastinate. While the invitation is always open, we don’t know the day or the hour when we will be called to explain our response to it.

And when the bridegroom does return in the dead of night and looks to us to see if we are prepared, will our good deeds be sufficient to give light to the lamps of our souls? When the Lord comes will he see the love of one another or the lust of the pagans? We pray for the former in a special mention of the Lord’s Prayer today that emphasizes the plea to be freed from temptation and delivered from evil.

Pax

[1] S.S Commemoratio

[2] The picture is “St. Augustine in His Cell” by Sandro Botticelli, 1490-94