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As we near the end of the Church year and the feast of Christ the King (in 2 weeks), our readings are reminding us that our lives will end and we will stand before our King: we need to be prudent and prepare ourselves.
Our Gospel this weekend is the parable of the 5 wise virgins and the 5 foolish virgins. Today we would use the word “bridesmaids.” The groom went to the bride’s house to get her and bring her back to his own house, where the celebration would begin. They did not have Ubers then, the distances could be long, and so it was unclear when the couple would return. The bridesmaids were to be waiting with torches to welcome them and lead them safely into the house. It may seem harsh and un-Gospel-like that the 5 wise virgins refused to share with the others. But, if the oil was divided, the reality was that all of them might not have had enough oil and the arriving couple would be left to fumble in darkness. They were not being mean: they were being practical. The point of all of this is to remind us that we need to live in such a way that we are ready to meet Christ our King, whenever that may be. It might be today; it might not be for 30 years! But it will happen and we need to be prepared. I find it hard to wrap my mind around the reality that I WILL die someday. It could be a sudden heart attack. It could be a violent automobile crash. It could be…. But the point is this: if I am doing my best to live a life of Gospel values, sharing God’s love, compassion and goodness with others, I have nothing to be worried about. Jesus will say to me: Come, you who are blessed by my Father…for I was hungry and you gave me food… Am I ready? What can I do to be more prepared? Church sign of the week: Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
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November 2024
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