Dear Friends:
With this Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are quickly approaching the end of the liturgical year. In two weeks’ time, we will celebrate the feast of Christ the King, and the following Sunday enter into the season of Advent. As is usual, the tone and theme of the readings from Scripture change as the year draws to a close.
The end of the year is a stark reminder that all things eventually will come to an end, including our own lives, even the world and the cosmos itself. We can approach this truth, this reality in a number of ways. We can live each day in absolute denial of it, surrounding ourselves with all kinds of pleasures, seeking an escape in passing things. Many in our culture today live this way, but it is not the answer. It is no way to live. The end will come as it must, and then what? That is the question we must all face. For us who believe in Christ, we are called to live each day in active, hope-filled anticipation, or even better, active, hope-filled preparation for that moment when the end will come, be it most likely at the moment of our own death, or with the end of the world through some kind of cataclysmic catastrophe. That moment will bring us to new and unending life when we will see God face to face. It is to be longed-for and very much anticipated.
The Gospel today presents us with yet another parable, that of the ten virgins who were waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom so that the wedding celebration could begin. They were expected to be awake on his return and to greet him with lamps lighted so that they could lead him into the feast. As Jesus tells the story, five of the virgins were wise, for they anticipated that they would have to be patient and perhaps wait quite a long time. In preparation for that, they brought extra oil. The other five were not so wise. They did not expect to wait, and as such, they did not bring sufficient oil with them. The bridegroom was delayed, and the virgins fell asleep, and when he does approach, they rise and get their lamps ready. Only five were ready and went into the feast. The others went off to buy some oil, but on their return, they were barred from entering the feast. The moment had passed. They were not prepared, and even all of the cries of “Lord, Lord!” did not gain them admittance.
The lesson is clear. We must not yield to the temptation to live only for the moment, but rather, we should live each day aware that one day the end will come and we will have to render an account to God for the way that we lived. Someone once said that we should approach each day as if it were our last, for one day that will come true. Another wise person advises us to remember that yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, and all that we have is today. So let us make the most of each day. Live not for yourself, but put God and the needs of others first and foremost. Nurture the virtue of hope in your approach to life. Hope is not pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. Hope is grounded in our faith in God, his goodness, his love and his providence. Hope helps us to trust that, provided we do the best that we can, we can trust that in the end, all things, because of God, will work out for good, even if that good proves to be unexpected and very surprising.
A word on the Annual Collection is in order. As of this week, already we have received gifts in the sum of over $37,000. We have passed the half-way point to our goal of $60,000. Thanks to all who have made a gift and for those who have not done so, please consider doing so between now and the end of the year so that it can be credited to you for income tax purposes.
Have a good week!