Cycle A - Year 1:  

12 November 2017:  Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Wisdom 6:12-16

Second Reading:   1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Gospel:Please Read  Matthew 25:1-13

Stay awake and keep watch!

Life on earth is just like a journey. And like any journey it is destined to end with the last step someday. Are we prepared to take the final step of our journey?

This Sunday's liturgy demonstrates a message of preparation in the Parable of the Ten Virgins; it is about vigilant faith.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was a master of story-telling. The circumstances of the parable of the ten virgins were taken from the marriage customs among the Jews, and explain the great day of Christ's second coming. Everybody loves a wedding! And so the parable of the wise and foolish virgins is a real-life situation.

God's kingdom will be like the ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the

bridegroom. Five of the virgins were wise, taking their lamps with enough reserved oil for the night. But the foolish five did not have reserved oil. The bridegroom was delayed in coming, so the foolish ones run out of oil and went out to buy more. But at that time the bridegroom arrived and only the five wise virgins were on hand to welcome him.

Incidentally, several of Christ's parables, and other teachings, touch on His second coming, and the need for His people to be ready for the event; expectant to the point of being prepared for it to happen at any time.     

And this is the thrust, and drive, of the parable of the "wise and foolish virgins." How does this apply to our Christian living?

Likewise, the Son of Man will come as a surprise, when people less expect Him. It can be today, it can be tomorrow, that is why the last warning of the parable of the ten virgins is: "Stay awake and keep watch!".... because we do not know either the day nor the hour.

Thus, the moral of the Gospel story is very simple, and the lesson is evident. We cannot be superficial and must look beyond the present moment, and try to discover the call of God even in the smallest things of this life.

 

In sum, Jesus warns us to be alert and must keep the flame of faith alive in our heart. This flame is lit with the oil of charity and prayer, charity performed through and for the love of God.

The Gospel reminds us that we will not be saved automatically simply by being members of the Church. Unless we are striving for holiness we can't hope to enter the kingdom of God. 

The Lord invites everyone to the wedding feast. But it is our decision to patiently prepare for it... when the Bridegroom comes at a time when we least expect.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank You for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!