V/ My eyes are turned to you, O Lord.
R/ You are the joy and gladness of my youth.
V/ Grant me the Wisdom that sits by your throne.
R/ That I may dwell as a child in your presence.
Let us pray
Lord, in Your all-providential plan, You have led me to this moment to rediscover myself in Your Word and Wisdom. Aid me to make this time of meditation and prayer enriching, transforming, and liberating for my well-being and others.
COME PREPARED… CERTAIN THINGS CANNOT BE BORROWED
By Dr Rathan N. Almeida, OCD
32nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR A
Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 63; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus narrates a meaningful parable which could have happened at any time in a Palestinian village and which could happen with us even today. Since a wedding ceremony was a great occasion, the whole village lined up at the sides of the road to wish God’s blessings on the bride being taken in procession by her groom to her new home. The invited guests would join the procession, which actually started from the bride’s house and moved to the groom’s house, and this marriage celebration would last for almost a week. Since the bridegroom would come to the bride’s house unexpectedly, the bridal party, with accompanying virgins (bridesmaids in our day), carrying lighted torches and reserve oil in jars, had to be ready at any time.
Now, five of these virgins, who, having forgotten to bring an extra jar of oil, had to run to the dealers to buy some, not only missed the arrival of the groom’s party but also lost their chance to take part in the celebration. They lost not only the opportunity of witnessing the marriage ceremony but also of participating in the week-long celebration that followed. The readings of this Sunday remind us to be wise and to be well prepared.
1. Wisdom is more than knowledge. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom tells us that wisdom is radiant, unfading, and easily found by those who seek her. Wisdom does not hide from us; she makes herself known to those who genuinely desire her. But biblical wisdom does not mean simply knowing many things. A person may have many degrees and still lack wisdom. We may know the Bible by heart but fail to practise forgiveness. We may know how to pray but still refuse to reconcile with someone. True wisdom is knowing what matters most and living accordingly.
The wise virgins understood that the bridegroom might be delayed. They prepared for the possibility. Similarly, a wise Christian does not wait until a crisis comes in order to begin praying, until death approaches to seek God, or until a relationship breaks down to learn forgiveness. Wisdom invites us to prepare today for the things that truly matter.
2. Oil cannot be borrowed at the last moment. In the Gospel, the foolish virgins ask the wise ones for some of their oil. But the wise virgins cannot give it away because there may not be enough for everyone. What does this oil represent? It can remind us of our personal relationship with God, our faith, our love, our prayer, and our daily efforts to live the Gospel. There are things in life that we can share. We can share our money, our food, our knowledge, and our time. But some things cannot simply be borrowed from another person.
For example:
- My spouse’s faith cannot replace my own faith.
- Our parents’ prayers cannot substitute for our personal relationship with God.
- My friends cannot eat for me and satisfy my hunger.
These are certain things that we ourselves have to perform; neither can we borrow them from others nor can these be substituted by them. We can certainly help one another grow in faith, but each of us must personally respond to God’s grace.
3. Do not postpone your conversion. Jesus concludes the parable with a powerful warning: ‘Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’ Keeping awake does not mean that we should never sleep or that we must live in fear of death. All ten virgins slept. The important difference was that the wise ones had prepared beforehand. Christian vigilance means living each day with a heart ready to welcome the Lord.
If we need to forgive someone, let us not postpone it. If we need to reconcile with a family member, let us take the first step. If our prayer has become weak, let us begin again today. If we have neglected someone who needs our love, let us reach out to that person. We often say, ‘Tomorrow I will pray better. Tomorrow I will forgive. Tomorrow I will change.’ But the Gospel reminds us that the best time to prepare for eternity is today and not tomorrow.
The oil in our lamps can remind us of the love we practise every day. The life of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus reminds us that a small act of kindness, a sincere apology, a word of encouragement, or a hidden sacrifice can become precious in God’s eyes when done with love. She would say: do not ask only, ‘How much have I done?’ Ask, ‘How much love have I put into what I have done?’
Finally, the foolish virgins remind us that the occasional or last-minute burst of spiritual fervour is not decisive but a habitual attention to one’s responsibilities before God. At the final judgement, there will be no depending upon the resources of others, no begging or borrowing of grace, faith, love, good character, and so on. Rather, we need to be aware and attend to our daily duties and responsibilities, and prepare well here and now, instead of waiting until the eleventh hour, which generally leads to last-minute panic. Let us not wait until the bridegroom arrives to discover that our lamps have gone out. Let us seek God’s wisdom, nurture our relationship with him, and keep our lamps burning through lives of faith, hope, and love.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, give us the wisdom to seek you, the grace to prepare for you, and the love to serve you faithfully each day. Keep the lamps of our hearts burning so that whenever you come, we may joyfully welcome you. Amen.
Ponder Questions
- Is the lamp of my faith still burning?
- Is the oil of love, prayer, and forgiveness present in my life?
- If the Lord came to meet me today, would I be ready?
Practice for the Week
Give God quality time every day, even if it is only a few moments. Perform one act of love every day. Do not postpone until tomorrow the good that you can do today.
Phrase to Quote
“Keep your faith burning, keep your heart loving, and keep your life ready.”