THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A

[cappie]

 In this week’s Gospel, Jesus talks about what it means to be prepared to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. This week’s reading follows a series of warnings and predictions by Jesus about the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus wants his disciples to understand that the exact day and time cannot be predicted.  We realize that what this parable is really telling us is that we must live the way God wants us to live all the time, not just when we think the Second Coming may happen. Jesus often reminds his hearers that we know not the time nor the hour. We must not be like some of the early Christians who put off their baptism until they were on their deathbed so that they could be guaranteed a place in heaven – their souls being cleansed from sin by their last-minute baptism. We cannot play chicken with God. It is not only juvenile, but also hypocritical. And we know what Jesus says so often about hypocrites.

Today’s parable is one of the really interesting ones. In one way it is full of questions on a very human level. What happened to the bride? Why was the bridegroom late? Why did he not recognize the young women? These are questions that would make a Bible study energetic!

On a soul-searching level, it is very straightforward. Jesus is reminding us that we must live our lives as true children of God. Of course, we are human, and we will sin. We will have times when we do not share our oil, so to speak, whether that is because of our selfishness or our own unpreparedness. But overall, we must seriously examine our hearts and souls each day and strive to be a witness to God’s love. Perhaps that could be a reason the bridegroom does not recognize the five foolish virgins. Would God recognize us as children of God right now, today? Or would God see that Sunday in church is the only time we think about God or our spiritual lives?

The world today makes it difficult to keep notice of our spiritual lives. We see entire institutions, governments, even the institutional church exhibiting less than laudable practices. We might wonder if the whole world has turned a blind eye to anything of God. We are certainly not treating God’s gift of creation as a gift worth caring for. With all the difficulties and horrors, we see happening all round us, we might even wonder where God is in all this.

That is when we have to remember this parable. Every one of us must begin every day with the resolve to live as a child of God. It is not easy. Those who do, we were reminded in the Beatitudes, often suffer for it. But it is worth it. We must be the ones who point toward God in everything we do. That is how we stay prepared. It is through our daily kindnesses, our willingness to share our oil, whatever that might look like. It is through our example of what is important in our lives. With Christmas coming soon, do we find ourselves totally immersed in the consumer side of the holiday, or are we taking some time to pray, to find some quiet time to thank God and ask for God’s strength? Are we afraid to talk about the true meaning of Advent and the coming of our Saviour among our own families and friends, because they believe Christmas is really about buying and selling? And yes, stores will be open at midnight, we would be able to get our oil, but would we be welcome to the feast? Maybe not.

It is up to us to live in a way so that we are always prepared. Quite honestly, living a life in which we are always prepared is easy. All we have to do, all we are asked to do by God is: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and love your neighbour as yourself.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Father..................once more.  

[Ash Wednesday]

Yes, thank you Father!