November 8
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year A
The Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time comes as the liturgical year approaches its close, inviting the faithful to reflect on themes of vigilance, readiness, and hope in God's promise. This period focuses attention on the teachings of Jesus regarding the end times and the need to live each day in anticipation of His return. The readings often include parables and exhortations that encourage believers to persevere in faith, cultivate wisdom, and remain attentive to the workings of God in daily life. Such Sundays serve as an opportunity for renewal and recommitment to Christian living as the year culminates.
Ordinary Time itself is not 'ordinary' in the sense of being unremarkable; rather, it denotes the ordered weeks between the seasons of Advent and Christmas, and between Pentecost and Advent. These Sundays are marked by green vestments, symbolizing the growth and maturity of the Church. As the 32nd Sunday, this liturgical celebration prepares hearts for the imminent season of Advent by calling attention to the final things—death, judgment, and the hope of eternal life. The Church encourages her members to remain spiritually awake, drawing from the richness of Scripture and the rhythm of the Church's prayer. This time serves as a reminder of the daily call to holiness and the constant readiness expected of every Christian.
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The liturgical day
Mass readings
First readingSg 6, 12-16
Wisdom is radiant,
she never fades.
She allows herself to be easily seen
by those who love her,
she allows herself to be found
by those who seek her.
She anticipates their desires
by making herself known first.
Whoever seeks her at dawn will not grow weary:
he will find her sitting at his door.
Thinking of her is the perfection of discernment,
and whoever keeps watch because of her
will soon be free from worry.
She goes about
in search of those who are worthy of her;
at every turn in the path,
she appears to them with a smiling face;
in their every thought,
she comes to meet them.
– The word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 62 (63), 2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
O God, you are my God,
I seek you at dawn:
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh longs for you,
in a dry and weary land, without water.
I have beheld you in the sanctuary,
I have seen your strength and your glory.
Your love is better than life itself:
you will be the praise on my lips!
All my life I will bless you,
lifting up my hands, calling on your name.
Like a feast I shall be satisfied;
joy on my lips, I will speak your praise.
In the night, I remember you
and I spend hours speaking with you.
Yes, you have come to my help:
I shout for joy in the shadow of your wings.
Second reading1 Th 4, 13-18
Brothers and sisters,
we do not want you to be ignorant
about those who have fallen asleep in death;
you must not be distressed
like the others, who have no hope.
Jesus, we believe, died and rose again;
so also, we believe, those who have fallen asleep,
God, through Jesus, will bring with him.
For, on the word of the Lord, we declare this to you:
we who are alive,
we who are left for the coming of the Lord,
will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
At the signal given by the voice of an archangel, and by the divine trumpet,
the Lord himself will come down from heaven,
and those who have died in Christ
will rise first.
Then, we who are alive,
we who are left,
will be caught up in the clouds,
at the same time as they,
to meet the Lord.
Thus, we shall be with the Lord forever.
Therefore comfort one another
with what I have just said.
– The word of the Lord.
OR SHORTER READING
Second reading1 Th 4, 13-14
Brothers and sisters,
we do not want you to be ignorant
about those who have fallen asleep in death;
you must not be distressed
like the others, who have no hope.
Jesus, we believe, died and rose again;
so also, we believe, those who have fallen asleep,
God, through Jesus, will bring with him.
– The word of the Lord.
GospelMt 25, 1-13
At that time,
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven will be like
ten young women invited to a wedding,
who took their lamps
to go out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish,
and five were wise:
the foolish ones took their lamps but brought no oil,
while the wise ones took, along with their lamps,
flasks of oil.
As the bridegroom was delayed,
they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry:
‘Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
Then all those young women got up
and began to prepare their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise:
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
The wise replied:
‘No, there may not be enough for us and for you;
go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom arrived.
Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet,
and the door was shut.
Later the other young women arrived as well and said:
‘Lord, Lord, open up for us!’
He replied:
‘Truly, I say to you:
I do not know you.’
So stay awake,
because you do not know the day or the hour.”
– Let us acclaim the word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org