Be Ready! Stay Awake!
Introduction
In the first reading Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to journey to God in right moral living. In this passage he advocates for purity, as impurity was typically a pagan vice. Christianity is not in the first place a morality, but moral living in accordance with the gospel. This is expected because we participate in the death to sin and resurrection to life of Christ. In this we are ready for the kingdom.
The key point of the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins in today’s gospel is not so much vigilance as foresight, readiness for the kingdom, and only then, consequently, vigilance.
1 Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God– and as you are conducting yourselves–you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honour, not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God; not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 97:1 and 2b, 5-6, 10, 11-12
R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. R.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory. R.
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them. R.
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name. R.
Alleluia: Luke 21:36
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. 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.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Commentary
It’s not sufficient to talk the talk; we also have to walk the walk. The parable reminds us to be prepared for an unspecified delay in the Lord’s coming. It’s not enough to say, “Everything’s okay. We belong to the club.” The five foolish virgins are excluded because they did not bring sufficient oil to provide for their lamps in the case of a long delay. The lesson is clear. We can never let our guard down.
The coming of Christ in our life often happens at an unexpected moment. A couple looks forward to retirement. No sooner does it come than death takes the wife or husband unexpectedly. Discerning the Lord’s will in our undertakings is to carry sufficient oil in our lamps. Preparedness is a distinctive mark of a true follower of Christ.
Paul today speaks of an area where vigilance comes into play.
It is the question of marriage. The decision to enter the married state should be sober and judicious, not controlled by passion or lustful considerations.
Blessing
Be ready for the coming of the Lord, always. We know what we are waiting for: the Lord, full life, great happiness. No fear then. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!