Five of them were wise ~ Reflection on the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wis 6:12-16
Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (2b)
1 Thes 4:13-18
Matt 25:1-13

Haven't you found that often the distractions of life keep you from focusing on the coming of Jesus into your life? This is certainly what five of the ten virgins discovered as they awaited the arrival of the bridegroom.

They were responsible for meeting him at the gate and escorting him to the wedding feast. As they prepared to leave, the five wise virgins took along extra oil, just in case... These young women wanted to be prepared. They did not want the bridegroom to arrive to find the way dark as they escorted him to the wedding feast. The extra oil would be their Plan B.

The foolish virgins never thought for a minute that the bridegroom might arrive late. They simply gathered what lamps they could find and ran off to meet the bridegroom.

We know what happened. The bridegroom was late... the young women fell asleep and awoke when they heard the sounds of his arrival. The foolish virgins' lamps had gone out and they had to go to the merchants to buy more oil. By the time they returned, the doors to the wedding feast had been closed and locked!

Jesus reminds us, "... stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matt 25:13) The foolish virgins had become distracted by the excitement of seeing the bridegroom and the honor of escorting him to the wedding feast. They didn't prepare themselves for the possibility of a late arrival.

On the other hand, the wise virgins had prepared themselves and thus were rewarded by the bridegroom who invited them to the wedding feast. Jesus wishes us to remember that we need to be prepared for when he comes again. We are to live lives of holiness pleasing to God; and to care for our brothers and sisters especially those who are in most need of our help.

Ordinary Time is drawing to a close and soon we will begin a new Church Year. The readings in these final weeks have continued to be reminders of the end of time... when Jesus comes again... and how we are to look forward to that time... whether we will rejoice at his final coming or whether we will find ourselves locked out of the wedding feast.

The psalmist has found the words that express what is in our hearts, as he sings:

"O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts...

...Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name..." (Ps 63:2, 5)


~ Image: Five of them were wise by Walter Rane