Sunday 12 November 2023

12Wisdom is radiant and doesn’t fade away;and is easily seen by those who love her,and found by those who seek her.13She anticipates those who desire her, making herself known.14He who rises up early to seek her won’t have difficulty,for he will find her sitting at his gates.15For to think upon her is perfection of understanding,and he who watches for her will quickly be free from care;16because she herself goes around, seeking those who are worthy of her,and in their paths she appears to them graciously,and in every purpose she meets them.

2God, you are my God.I will earnestly seek you.My soul thirsts for you.My flesh longs for you,in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.

3So I have seen you in the sanctuary,watching your power and your glory.4Because your loving kindness is better than life,my lips shall praise you.

5So I will bless you while I live.I will lift up my hands in your name.6My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food.My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,

7when I remember you on my bed,and think about you in the night watches.8For you have been my help.I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.

13But we don’t want you to be ignorant,brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep,so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,even so God will bring with him thosewho have fallen asleep in Jesus.15For this we tell you by the word of the Lord,that we who are alive,who are left until the coming of the Lord,will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet.The dead in Christ will rise first,17then we who are alive,who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.So we will be with the Lord forever.18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virginswho took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.3Those who were foolish,when they took their lamps,took no oil with them,4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.5Now while the bridegroom delayed,they all slumbered and slept.6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold!The bridegroom is coming!Come out to meet him!’7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.8The foolish said to the wise,‘Give us some of your oil,for our lamps are going out.’9But the wise answered,saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you?You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’10While they went away to buy,the bridegroom came,and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast,and the door was shut.11Afterward the other virgins also came,saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’12But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you,I don’t know you.’13Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour inwhich the Son of Man is coming.