Word to the Wise
Sunday, November 6, 2011 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Wis 6:12-16; 1 Thess 4:13-18 or 4:13-14; Matt 25:1-13,]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......[Matthew]
Oh, how I remember my novice master, all those years ago, exhorting us novices to be "wise virgins." Oh course, this was the subject of ribald comment later on, but who among us has not gone somewhere without the very thing that the trip prompted? It's why I still carry a small spiral tablet of lists with me all the time! Each time I pack for a preaching journey, I pray that I will remember to bring everything I need for the trip - medications, notes, enough clothing, chargers for various electronic devices, etc., etc. My operating principle is that I've forgotten something. What will it be this time?
The level of Jesus' parable is, of course, more profound. Wisdom allows for sound planning for one's life. The parable recommends that we live as if the Lord could come at any time. Human nature will mean getting drowsy and lazy and sloppy about living Christian life. We need to "stay in shape" or, in the words of the parable, we need to have enough oil in our lamps! Even if we are discouraged veterans of various programs of physical or spiritual hygiene, we cannot afford to give up the effort. The Dominican tradition that I have become part of offers a "regime" of prayer, study, community and ministry. In retreats and parish missions I put it in the form of four questions: How am I praying? How am I learning? How am I loving? How am I serving? I suggest that asking these questions on a regular basis means continually putting oil in the lamps. Readiness and good spiritual hygiene are essential to our Christian life. Don't get caught short! AMEN