(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).
COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL GOD, GRACIOUSLY KEEP FROM US ALL ADVERSITY, SO THAT, UNHINDERED IN MIND AND BODY ALIKE, WE MAY PURSUE IN FREEDOM OF HEART THE THINGS THAT ARE YOURS. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Wis 6:12-16; Ps 62:2-8 1Thes 4:13-18 or 4:13-14; Mt 25:1-13.
“LORD, GRANT ME WISDOM AND PRUDENCE TO STAY FOCUSED ON YOU TILL THE END”
The Book of Proverbs tells us that, “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God” (Prov 14:31). We are also told, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act…” (Prov 3:27ff). In the Parable about the Last Judgment in Mt 25:31-46, those who show charity and share what they have with the needy and poor receive blessedness in heaven, but those who refuse to show charity to the poor and needy are cursed. However, in the Parable in today’s Gospel, the five wise virgins refuse to do charity to the foolish virgins, and yet, they are blessed. Is it not a contradiction in Jesus’ teaching, as some people may judge it? It must be noted that although, all things being equal, the five wise virgins should have shared their oil with the foolish virgins as a sign of charity, the point of the parable is not about charity but prudence, PRUDENCE, I repeat. This is one of the greatest virtues, and Jesus stresses the importance of this virtue, which is also mentioned in the first reading from the Book of Wisdom: “For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and whoever for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care;…” (Wis 6:15).
The main lesson of the parable in this Sunday’s Gospel has to do with the need to be always on the alert: in practice. This means having the light of faith, which is kept alive with the oil of good deeds burning. The parable centres on the attitude one should adopt up to the time when the bridegroom comes, yes, when the Lord comes on my last day on earth. Truly, both the Gospel and the second reading from Saint Paul to the Thessalonians speak of the Lord’s return, the Day of the Lord, or the last Day of each of us. Each of us needs to get ready and be well prepared for that day, with oil in our lamps burning.
Indeed, it is not enough to know that one is “inside” the Kingdom, the Church: one needs to be on the watch and be preparing for Christ’s coming (my last day) by doing good works. One needs to be vigilant, which should be continuous and unflagging, because the devil is always and forever there in this world after us, prowling around “like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1Pet 5:8). Therefore (according to St. Augustine in his Sermons, 93), we need to “Watch with the heart, watch with faith, watch with love, watch with charity, watch with good works…..; make ready the lamps, make sure they do not go out……, renew them with inner oil of an upright conscience; then shall the Bridegroom enfold you in the embrace of his love and bring you into his banquet room, where your lamp can never be extinguished”.
We need to be very wise in heavenly matters and know that when it comes to borrowing, it is possible on earth, but it is never possible in heaven or when it comes to entrance into heaven. Therefore, it is possible to borrow money, or clothes or whatever from fellow human beings here on earth. But it is highly impossible to borrow someone’s virtues, good deeds, faith, etc to go into heaven with that. I can never borrow my mother’s or uncle’s or any virtue or value from any of my relatives and use that to go into heaven. I, and every person, must work on his or her virtues, good deeds and faith to aid the person in entering heaven.
We also need to be aware of the attitude of “Benle taa le” ( Lit. “Deceive one another and perish together”), where I know that the life I am leading will end me in trouble, but because I do not want to land in trouble alone, I deceive others into that trouble. Applying this to the Parable in today’s Gospel, it is probable that if the wise virgins had given some of their oil to the foolish ones, theirs would not have been enough to last up to the time of the arrival of the groom. That would have meant that their lamps would equally be quenched at the time that the groom arrived. Both the foolish and wise would have been left outside; “Benle taa le”. Always be prudent and guard yourself against this attitude and be wise, alert and watchful. May we stay focused on our heavenward journey and never allow anything to detract us along the way. May we work hard in living divine virtues, carrying out good deeds, live strong in the faith and live prudent lives as we await to encounter the Lord at the end of our earthly lives. Stay blessed and happy on the 32nd Sunday.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SUNDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION ’. (WE PRAY FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “GRANT, WE PRAY, O LORD, THAT YOUR DEPARTED SERVANTS, FOR WHOM WE HAVE CELEBRATED THIS PASCHAL SACRAMENT, MAY PASS OVER TO A DWELLING PLACE OF LIGHT AND PEACE. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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