Greetings on this the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13
Summary
Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and Sisters … For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ (Wis 6:12; 1 Thes 4:13a-14; Mt 24:42a, 25:11-12).
It is a joy to see the Church follow Jewish teaching tradition by juxtaposing two themes so as to, in so very few words, allow us to understand the parallelism of a secular and faith filled life and, succinctly, the remedy therein.
Reflection
Falling Asleep
There are two types of falling asleep in our sacred readings today. Falling asleep in the way of death and of inattentiveness leading unto separation from the divine. Falling asleep (death) does not separate you from God. The other, maybe!
Lord, Lord
A double plea – Lord, Lord – signifies the urgency of the statement. For example, when Jesus says, “Amen, Amen, I say to you” there is an urgency built into the written words that should come through that is more easily expressed in person verbally. And in a related way, the divine calling out to Abraham, Moses and Samuel all are recorded as a double name calling, to wit, Moses, Moses! This ancient rhetorical device is known as epizeuxis – intense urgency, deep intimacy, or passionate emphasis (wiki). In the Old Testament the phrase is, in some cases, interpreted as Lord God.
Wisdom
Wisdom helps us know the difference.
Wisdom reveals, by her gifts, that through of the death and resurrection of Jesus we are united with God.
So in this life being awake to the saving act of God is to have oil for your lamp. Living a life — not stumbling in the dark — but alit with love.
And, in the lasting gift of contemplation, we are left with the questions:
Questions
- Do the foolish virgins get to heaven or not?
- Are they left outside forever looking in and regretting their inattentiveness?
Answers:
- At one level the parable is surrounded by other parables which express the finality of death and the consequence of a life poorly lived. This is the immediate understanding.
- At another level we are given the hope of being found and known, somehow, through the mercy of God.
A single leading Amen, means that God has the authority and power to enforce this outcome. The fictional figures are not a census of the damned. They are the symbol of the importance.
Personal Reflection
This is our mirror moment. When I look at myself, do I see someone who is truly awake? Do I see someone professing Christ both interiorly and exteriorly? If we are unsure, then our shared prayer must be: Wisdom, lead me the way!
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110826.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry