https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110826.cfm
Several 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 entrance of the Church to begin the ceremony 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.
At this time as we come quickly to the end of our liturgical year, this theme or anticipation of the Lord's coming is before us. While we may not want to reflect much on the end times, it is better for us to anticipate and to be aware of where the Lord is present to us now, each day.
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.
The maidens are to
accompany the bride from her home to the groom’s home in great joy as she is
carried in procession. The mood is
festive. Yet, the groom may be negotiating with the bride's father about
financial arrangements for his daughter.
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, 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. Likewise, each day
is another opportunity to meet the Lord and to show him how wise we have been
rather than wasteful and reckless.
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 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!
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