Greetings on this the Friday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 COR 1:17-25; PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11; MT 25:1-13
Notes:
Yesterday the homily was about being Staying Awake(Highway Hypnosis).
I told a story when I was 16 driving in NY, 1974. Frightening and funny, too!
https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2022/08/25/highway-hypnosis/
Nobody asked me: ‘How can it be I stay awake always? Do I not need to sleep?’
It’s OK, that is because I talked about being alert and the same question did not come up.
But it could or should have been a question! Work with me here.
Today, Jesus describes ten virgins waiting for their Master and yet ALL of them fell asleep and not one remained awake and, after accounting the consequences, Jesus repeats the same command here as the parable yesterday:
Today: Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Yesterday: Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Hm.
Even more things to contemplate in the foolishness of God:
- Virginity of itself is good but is not the path of salvation. I’m not being coy here. All ten were virgins, only five entered the banquet of the wedding feast. Sexual purity of itself is good but not the path of salvation.
- Stay awake? All ten fell asleep, only five entered the banquet of the wedding feast.
- Having a lamb filled with oil. All ten had lamps and started with full lamps, only five entered the banquet of the wedding feast.
- The full oil flask. Only five had a full oil flask with them. These five entered the banquet of the wedding feast.
The Full Oil Flask is the Oil of Charity which is Love.
- Everyone is born with a LAMP, with a WICK, and with OIL (actual charity and the capacity of future Charity).
- How we conduct our lives determines the outcome.
- How we conduct our lives determines if we have a full oil flask, the rightness of life.
We may or may not be virgins (it is better to be pure).
We may or may not fall asleep waiting (inevitable actually).
We do decide if our oil flask will be full of charity.
Rejecting the request to share the oil at that late a time with the bridegroom already present is reasonable. The groom is here, my love (charity) is for him. This is the time when I must account for my own heart, alone.
- You cannot borrow love.
- You cannot buy love.
- You cannot bargain for love.
You either love or do not love.
First reading
The world did not come to know God through wisdom.
Throught relation, interaction and right living.
Responsorial Psalm
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
Alleluia Verse
Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
Gospel Portion
The bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 