Matthew 25: 1-13
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111223.cfm
A number of years ago, as a favor to another priest, I conducted a wedding at a nearby Catholic Church for a couple who I really didn’t know very well. He assured me they were prepared for the marriage and felt things would go well. So, all the proper permissions were in order and I frankly looked forward to a nice wedding ceremony from all that I had heard.
The priest was right as far
as I could judge on meeting them that all should go well for the wedding
however the beginning of the wedding was a bit off putting. The entire wedding party had arrived early
enough. As guests were arriving I was likewise getting ready and joined them in
the back of the Church to begin the ceremony. Ready to begin with the wedding
party lined up, I noticed the groom was missing! With less than five minutes to
go I asked if anyone knew where he was but no one did. Earlier "sightings" of the groom
had happened, including by myself, but when all was ready we were found
waiting. I don't know how the bride felt
but she was preoccupied with last minute details out of sight. All was ready,
but no husband to be.
Finally, one of the groom's
men said, "I last saw him downstairs." So two of us then went in
search of the groom and sure enough, he was watching a baseball game on
TV. He claimed he lost track of time of
all things and ran upstairs to take his place. Embarrassed, nervous laughter
and all settled down to proceed as expected.
I whispered to him, "Are you sure you want to do this?" he
joked, "Sorry, yes of course." I could not help but think of this
Sunday's parable from Matthew's Gospel about the waiting bride’s maids as they
longed for the groom to appear.
Reflecting Jewish wedding
custom of the day this parable of Jesus is fundamentally our attitude as Christians
who await the return of the Lord who will come at some time in his risen glory
for the final judgement on all creation. Like the bridesmaids we must be ready
to receive him whenever that moment arrives keeping in reserve a life of good
works and spiritual strength to offer when he comes.
According to Jewish custom, virgins
or more literally bridesmaids are to accompany the bride from her home to the groom’s
home in great joy as she is carried in procession as his wife. The mood is festive. Yet, the groom may be
negotiating with the bride's father about financial arrangements for his
daughter. Still, as my earlier experience, he is late for the wedding. In fact, very late and those who are waiting
for him begin to fall asleep not knowing when he will arrive but in their wisdom,
prepared for that moment. The unprepared, the foolish ones, live only for the
moment with no anticipation of the future.
Suddenly, at the midnight
hour the groom (Christ) appears to the surprise of everyone. The story
emphasizes overall that being prepared for the Lord's final coming at the end
of all time is a wise choice. To seek
and welcome Wisdom, a reference to Christ, in our first reading is the model
for all Christians. While living life with no future thought is foolish, in
particular when it comes to our faith; our spiritual life and the life of
Jesus' Gospel values.
Here Jesus emphasizes not
when he is to come, yet we fully believe that he will return the this earth at
some moment in time, but wisdom is not so much to fret about that as it is to
live in readiness. Each day is another
opportunity to meet the Lord and to show him how wise we have been rather than
wasteful and foolish.
Our first reading from the
Book of Wisdom uses the word “anticipation.” The writer of Wisdom tells us:
“She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire.” Obviously,
the writer of this Book assumed Wisdom, feels the female pronoun adds to the
beauty of wisdom.
The implication is that she
knows that she is desirable not for any inappropriate reasons but rather for
the insight she bestows to make careful and intelligent choices – with
“prudence.” True wisdom is to know what God desires and to seek that out for our
lives.
The Spirit breaths into us
and teaches that we can’t be lazy but rather we must be open and ready to
receive the Lord. We should be seeking
him, anticipating his coming, and be ready for when he arrives. Our lives should contain good works, signs of
charity and selfless service towards others, a faith that has grown and been
put into to practice. Such works are the fruit of our lives in Christ and,
symbolized by the oil, our “lamps” are found burning bright when the groom
arrives.
Having enough oil as our
parable illustrates is a sign of our readiness before God. The Christian life
points to the future and not only to our present moment in time. Thus, we see
this illustrated in our Gospel parable. So, we hear the Gospel as a whole, not
just as a part.
Jesus tells us to not be
complacent about our life of faith. As Catholic Christians we enjoy a spiritual
treasure and tradition. How well do I
know what is there? Do I take seriously my prayer life, do I participate in the
sacraments especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation? Do I offer some time in
doing good works for the benefit of others, do I take advantage of learning
more about my faith or do I assume that what I learned in Catholic grade school
or during my teenage years is all I need to know? Do I take some time to spend with the
scriptures and/or read a book on spirituality or the lives of the saints? Do I ever pray the Rosary? Our journey may
lead us down different paths but in the spiritual life, there is a path for all
of us. We can go on and on about the treasures of our faith but to ignore them,
to never explore such things or participate on some level in them, is to be at
a serious loss – basically foolish.
Bottom line, the whole point
of our existence here is to get to heaven.
How I get there is answered in this parable. If we are living the life
of the Gospel in the best way that we can as a disciple of Christ, then we are
ready to meet him whenever it is that time. I think, personally, how we will be
judged in the end will hear God saying to us: “What did you do with what I gave
you?” If we cannot answer that question we may indeed need to check our oil
supply!
Our life here is meant to be
lived with a certain level of readiness. Not to be obsessive and overly focused
on the preparation but to respond each day to God’s call and desire that he
always remains the center of our lives and Lord of our lives. The last thing we want to hear from him, as
the foolish, self-centered and unprepared bridesmaids did, “I do not know you.”
Let’s not be caught unprepared but
embrace this good news. "Stay awake!"
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Almighty and merciful God,
graciously keep from us all adversity,
so that, unhindered in mind and body alike,
we may pursue in freedom of heart
the things that are yours.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
( Collect of Mass )
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