Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
Gospel: Matthew 25: 1-13
This Sunday's readings bring familiar warnings about preparation for the end of our own world, the end of our own time and our passage to another world. They tell us that a searching, watching and evolving heart is essential for a lively, dynamic faith in God. They ask us whether we are ready for these events and how we are preparing for them.
Since Jesus' parable in today's gospel has five well-prepared, wise women, the first reading chosen for today shows us wisdom personified as a woman. The author advises Jews in Alexandria not to envy the wisdom of the pagan philosophers, because they themselves have true wisdom in their sacred scripture, a wisdom which regulates not only this life but the next also. Hence, they must live their lives in strict conformity with the divine wisdom given them so generously by God. In the second reading, Paul assures those Christians who expected Jesus' second coming in their own lifetime that the death and resurrection of Jesus is powerful enough to save even those who die before the second coming of Jesus. However they are cautioned to be alert, well-prepared and vigilant. In the gospel parable of the ten virgins, the foolish virgins represent the "Chosen People of God" who were waiting for the Messiah, but were shut out from the messianic banquet because they were unprepared.The universal meaning is that the five foolish virgins represent those who fail to prepare for the end of their lives. What matters is not the occasional or the last-minute burst of spiritual fervor but habitual attention to one's responsibilities before God. At the final judgment, there will be no depending upon the resources of others, no begging or borrowing of grace. The parable implies that we should attend to duties of the present moment, preparing now rather than waiting until it is too late.
We need to be wise enough to remain ever prepared. Wise Christians find Jesus in the most ordinary experiences of daily living -- in the people they meet, the events that take place, and the situations in which they find themselves, and they carefully make their daily choices for God. They are ready to put the commandment of love into practice by showing kindness, mercy and forgiveness.
Let us be sure that our Lamps are ready for the end of our lives. Spiritual readiness, preparation and growth are the result of intentional habits built into one's life. We cannot depend on a Sunday Mass or morning service to provide for all our spiritual needs, nor on Christian fellowship to provide us with spiritual development. These disciplines include taking time for prayer talking to God and listening to Him by reading the Bible; frequently receiving the sacraments with devotion; acts of loving service to others; moral faithfulness and loving obedience; and spending time with other Christians for mutual prayer, study and encouragement.They also include cultivating attitudes of humility, compassion, mercy and forgiveness towards others As these habits become developed, they cease to be a struggle and begin to be a source of strength and blessing. They make our life powerful against the onslaught of the world and keep us well prepared to meet our Saviour whenever he returns or at the time of our death.
Graham Greene once observed: "There is always one moment when the door opens and lets the future in." Will you be ready when your time comes? Robert Runcie was. During a battle in WWII, a British tank was hit. The crew, except for the co-driver, scrambled out. The turret on the tank was stuck in such a position that it could not be opened, pinning the co-driver inside. Under heavy fire, a soldier jumped out of his own tank, ran to turn the turret, and dragged the co-driver out. That soldier, Robert Runcie, was ready to do what was needed in WWII. He was also ready to do what was needed when he became Archbishop of Canterbury many years later. Victory goes to those who are prepared. Preparation and character go hand in hand. One more thing needs to be said. It is amazing that many of us who are prepared for life, fail to prepare for eternity. We get our degrees in top schools and universities.We position ourselves for the right jobs. We set our goals ten years in advance. We know where we want to retire. Each year we invest in retirement plans for a secure and comfortable old age.. And we totally disregard the most important reality of all, our relationship with God until it's too late, and we are unprepared. When Bishop Philip Brooks, author of "O, Little Town of Bethlehem," was seriously ill, he requested that none of his friends come to see him. But when an acquaintance of his named Robert Ingersoll, the famous anti-Christian propagandist, came to see him he allowed him to enter his room. Ingersoll said, "I appreciate this very much, especially when you aren't letting any of your close friends see you." Bishop Brooks responded, "Oh, I'm confident of seeing them in the next world, but this may be my last chance to see you."
Are you ready and well prepared for the biggest thing in your life ? Your address after you are gone from the world is the most important thing that matters now.
God Bless.
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