Today's Readings
Thirty-second Sunday in ordinary time
Wisdom 6:12-16
Ps 63:2-8
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13
During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives.
One day in 1789, the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand.
While fretting with incessant anxiety, panting and quelling a clamour for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, “The Day of Judgement is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.” Candles were served, lighted and the session continued.
The wise man knows that wisdom is a pure gift of God, and humbly pleads for it from God. The first reading instructs us to rise early to seek wisdom in prayer, to fix our thoughts on desiring her, and we will be sure to meet her on our paths and in our thoughts. Seeking her is an important part to possessing her. In the psalm, David seeks God as his true wisdom saying, “My soul is longing and yearning for you.” God alone can satisfy the longing and yearning of the soul, for in God alone is our soul at rest. In the gospel we meet Jesus as the Bridegroom of the Church, his beloved. As part of the Church we may find ourselves among the foolish or the wise! The foolish maidens appear to us as forgetful, lacking in foresight, and senseless. They remind us of that other man Jesus spoke about, who built his house on sand, not putting into practice the words of Jesus. Wisdom invites us to found our life on God, whereas the foolish are short-sighted and base their entire lives on their human qualities.
Jesus also warns us that, as frail humans, we are in danger of falling asleep and forgetting our duty. The image of sleep is striking. Think of it. We could be sleeping throughout our whole Christian life instead of living it, without even knowing. As we wait for God whose coming is delayed, we tend to get tired; then follows tepidity, routine and drowsiness. So it is that we could easily miss that all-important moment of an encounter with God. Actually, the only moment that really matters to us is this moment of God-encounter, the moment he chooses to come to meet us. But we do not know that hour. And that brings us to the core message of this parable. We are called by Jesus to wait and watch – in alertness and readiness. In the parable we find both, the wise and foolish maidens, asleep at the Lord’s approach. God does not seem to be surprised by this, knowing well what we are made of. The emphasis of the parable however, is on having our lamps lit. What does it mean to have our lamps lit, and being alert and ready for action? It just means that we have to be found with the light of duty burning. Each one of us is called to a certain task, a certain mission at every point of our life. This is our oil for the moment, whether it is patiently comforting a bawling toddler, or serenely washing a bucketful of soiled clothes, whether it is working on a company project in all honesty or even engaging in relaxation and entertainment without compromising on morals. It could also be bearing with an unpleasant situation at home or work, or being plain nice towards someone who has caused us harm. Keeping our lamps lit is preparing our hearts by being charitable in our thoughts, words and deeds. For, wisdom enters through love.
The ten virgins all appear the same at the time of sleep; one cannot differentiate between the wise and the foolish. It is only when they hear the Master approaching, that they are all exposed for what they truly are. This reminds us that we should be careful of falling in the trap of judging others around us. While on earth, nothing is sure, and we are called to simply love each other, without seeking to know where each one actually stands before God. “It is the greater wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others” says St John of the Cross. Let us make a conscious effort therefore, to fill our lamps with oil. Let us keep waiting and watching with joy and anticipation. The judgment pronounced by God on the maidens, in a way, expresses what they merited by their own behaviour. What judgement does my behaviour merit?
But our charity has to extend beyond the family if our light will shine "before all." There are many lonely people in nursing homes, whether the homes are upscale or basic. Some of the elderly do not have children to visit them. In other cases the children have abandoned them. We find ways to comfort them even with Covid's restrictions.
Soon we will be asking each other if we are ready for Christmas. Of course, we will mean if we have bought gifts and decorated the Christmas tree. This year we will want to prepare for Christmas also by doing good works for the elderly, both relatives and those till strangers. We should think of Christmas as a rehearsal for the Lord's return at the end of time. We will be preparing for Jesus.
Reflect, today, upon those in your life whom God wants you to love. How well do you do this? How complete is your commitment? How far are you willing to go? Whatever comes to mind in regard to your lacking of this gift, pay attention to this and beg the Lord for His grace so that you, too, will be one who is wise and ready to meet the Lord at any time.
Lord, I pray for the supernatural gift of charity in my life. Please fill me with love for others and help me to be abundantly generous in this love. May I hold nothing back and, in so doing, be fully prepared to meet You whenever You call me home. Help me to approach each situation with my “eyes open, in the full light of knowledge and faith.” Give me the grace to discern proper actions and then follow through for your glory. Jesus, I trust in You.
Today by God's grace, practice the cardinal virtue of prudence by taking a minute before making a decision to consciously discern its implications in the light of faith and reason. The Lord be with you. Have a glorious Sunday and nice celebrations.