Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the festival of Saint Terentian, Bishop & Martyr (died 118, of Todi), martyred in the reign of the emperor Hadrian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Sixtus of Reims, Bishop (died circa 300, also spelt Xystus): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Giles, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 650-710, A.K.A. Aegidius), founder of the Abbey of Saint-Gilles, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey & Wikipedia-link XIV.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter four, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Ninety-seven, verses one & two(b), five & six, ten, & eleven & twelve;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses one thru thirteen.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, our Gospel today is the parable that compares the kingdom of heaven with ten virgins who with their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom. This is an image borrowed from the customs of the time. The bridesmaids would wait for the groom and, upon his appearance, would accompany him.

Well, this is the Christian community, waiting for Christ the groom to arrive. Did Jesus tell this parable because he knew that his church would be in for a long period of waiting?

We are wise in our waiting if we pray on a regular basis, if we educate ourselves in the faith, if we participate in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, if we perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, if we become people of love. We are foolish in our waiting if we neglect these things.

And here is one of the hardest truths of this parable: the divine life, so cultivated, cannot simply be shared with another at the last minute. The wise virgins are not being difficult and self-absorbed when they tell their friends that they can't help them. A saint can't simply infuse his life into another; it just doesn't work that way.

Video reflection by D. J. Bernal: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bible Study—The Bible Timeline: Divided Kingdom, Part 2 of 2
The Second Book of Kings, chapter eight (verses one thru twenty-nine);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter nine (verses one thru thirty-seven);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter ten (verses one thru thirty-six);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter eleven (verses one thru twenty);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter twelve (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Second Book of Kings, chapter thirteen (verses one thru twenty-five).

Commentary: IV. The Kingdoms of Israel & Judah [cont'd]: Prediction of Famine (8:1-6), Death of Ben-hadad (8:7-15), Reign of Jehoram (8:16-24), Ascension of Ahaziah (8:25-29), Anointing of Jehu (9:1-15a), Murder of Joram (9:15b-26), Death of Ahaziah (9:27-29), Death of Jezebel (9:30-37), Killing of Ahab's Descendants (10:1-11), Ahaziah's Kinsmen (10:12-14), Jehu in Samaria (10:15-17), Baal's Temple Destroyed (10:18-36), Rule of Athaliah (11:1-20), Reign of Joash [of Judah] (12:1-22), Reign of Jehoahaz of Israel (13:1-9), & Reign of Joash of Israel (13:10-25).