Word to the Wise
Friday, September 1, 2017 - Friday in the 21th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Thess 4:1-8 and Matt 25:1-13]FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017. FRIDAY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 and Matthew 25:1-13] "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day or the hour." [Matthew] The twenty-fifth chapter of the Gospel According to Matthew focuses on the end of time and the second coming of Christ. The parable that forms today's gospel scripture is about the "wise virgins" who lived with a view that since they were uncertain about the return of the bridegroom, they prepared for a long wait. The unwise ones did not think far enough in advance and found themselves left out of the party. Living with big uncertainties is not easy. Those who live along the Gulf Coast or the Pacific Coast know about the possibility of hurricanes or earthquakes, but inevitably these events catch them "by surprise" and find them without resources to cope. These events are not divine punishment by any means, but they do illustrate the need for a kind of preparedness for a definite event that is uncertain in its timing - supplies and procedures. In the short term, our present lifestyle can reveal our long term attitudes. St. Paul's Letter to the Thessalonians in today's first scripture gives a sample of that. The attitude that says, "I'll have plenty of time to prepare (or repent)," is a gamble. The attitude of preparedness as a part of regular life (e.g. "Fire drills") is just good sense but any person or group of persons can get lazy about this. Jesus has given us common sense advice about his return at the end of time. Will we be prepared? AMEN
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