Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize: not through the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ become empty. 18For the Word of the Cross is certainly foolishness to those who are perishing. But to those who have been saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God. 19For it has been written: “I will perish the wisdom of the wise, and I will reject the discernment of the prudent.” 20Where are the wise? Where are the scribes? Where are the truth-seekers of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of this world into foolishness? 21For the world did not know God through wisdom, and so, in the wisdom of God, it pleased God to accomplish the salvation of believers, through the foolishness of our preaching. 22For the Jews ask for signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom. 23But we are preaching Christ crucified. Certainly, to the Jews, this is a scandal, and to the Gentiles, this is foolishness. 24But to those who have been called, Jews as well as Greeks, the Christ is the virtue of God and the wisdom of God. 25For what is foolishness to God is considered wise by men, and that which is weakness to God is considered strong by men.

1A Psalm of David. Exult in the Lord, you just ones; together praise the upright.

2Confess to the Lord with stringed instruments; sing psalms to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.

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4For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his works are in faith.

5He loves mercy and judgment. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.

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10The Lord scatters the counsels of the nations. Moreover, he reproves the thoughts of the people, and he rejects the counsels of the leaders.

11But the counsel of the Lord remains for eternity, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.

1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the groom and the bride. 2But five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3For the five foolish, having brought their lamps, did not take oil with them. 4Yet truly, the prudent ones brought the oil, in their containers, with the lamps. 5Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep, and they were sleeping. 6But in the middle of the night, a cry went out: ‘Behold, the groom is arriving. Go out to meet him.’ 7Then all those virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps. 8But the foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give to us from your oil, for our lamps are being extinguished.’ 9The prudent responded by saying, ‘Lest perhaps there may not be enough for us and for you, it would be better for you to go to the vendors and buy some for yourselves.’ 10But while they were going to buy it, the groom arrived. And those who were prepared entered with him to the wedding, and the door was closed. 11Yet truly, at the very end, the remaining virgins also arrived, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12But he responded by saying, ‘Amen I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13And so you must be vigilant, because you do not know the day or the hour.