|
|
|
|
A Parable of the Ten Virgins
|
|
There is no doubt about it, the first Christians fully
expected Jesus to return soon. But they were disappointed as days,
weeks, months and years went by, and Jesus was a no-show. Some began to
wonder if Jesus was coming back at all.
|
|
Matthew's gospel was an answer to this dilemma. It is
aimed at those who are losing heart, losing faith, and giving up. He
offers a parable from Jesus that basically warns his followers to be
always ready, no matter what the schedule. The Lord, like the
bridegroom, will indeed come, but He will come when we least expect Him.
So do not be foolish, be prepared.
|
|
Christians have been prepared for 2,000 years now. Even
with a no‑show and a weaker sense of urgency than the early Christians,
we still recite every Sunday a creed that proclaims He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
|
|
And there are people in every century who say they know
exactly when Jesus is coming. Even today the latest warnings and
timetables are to be found in a best seller, the "Left Behind" series.
They are full of eccentric, false and misleading readings of scripture.
|
|
Far out as they are, they are very popular. Maybe because
our world is in such a mess that some just yearn for Christ to come and
put an end to it all. But we are stuck with the meanwhile: Until Christ
comes, what do we do? How do we live?
|
|
Matthew gives us an answer in today's gospel. He offers us two themes: be prepared, be recognized.
|
|
First, be prepared. Not only for the visitation of Jesus
in judgement and death, but also for His visitation in life. Jesus is
already here!
|
|
The inspiration to help those in need, the out of the
blue sense that we should pray, the time we ask ourselves, is that all
there is? Should I be doing something different with my life? Or the
sudden impulse to do good, to be more noble, less selfish.
|
|
Then there is the more insistent attention‑getters: the
death of a loved one, the onslaught of an illness. Or looking in the
mirror and seeing an old person looking back. Or seeing the awesomeness
of nature. The falling asleep child in your arms, your first child or
grandchild.
|
|
All these common occurrences are inspirations of the
Holy Spirit. These, my friends, are visits from Jesus. He comes to us in
the now. If only we would stay awake, recognize and embrace these
times, when the groom arrives, we would be prepared, no matter when the
final visit.
|
|
The second lesson in Matthew's gospel is to live in
such a way as to be recognized by Jesus. And we are recognized by Christ
not by our card-carrying memberships, but by our faith and good works.
|
|
Remember in the story when the foolish virgins ask
the five wise ones to share some of their oil, and the five reply no
way. That might sound selfish, but the fact is that the oil stands for
faith and good works, and these are not transferrable.
|
|
You cannot borrow the oil of faith. You cannot
borrow another's good works. You must respond to God's call yourself.
|
|
Yes, Christ will come to judge the living and the
dead, but no one knows the day or the hours. I suggest that we live as
if Christ is coming today, not in fear and trembling, but in the
realization that the Christ who is coming is already here in so many
ways.
|
|
He is in those around you, here and at home. He
touches you in the hungry you nourish, in the stranger you welcome. In
the sick you take time to console, or the child you encourage. When you
touch them, you touch Christ, and so when He does come He will recognize
you because you will not be a stranger to Him.
|
|
So stop worrying about the end of times, when Christ
will come. He is coming to you today as you come up and receive Him. And
if you are looking for Him, He is seated all around you.
|
|
Yours in Christ,
|
|
|
Fr. Robert Warren, S.A.
|
|
|
P.S. On November 23rd, the Friars of the Atonement will celebrate Thanksgiving Blessings, a very special Thanksgiving Day Mass. Join with us by sending your most heartfelt petitions to me now. With grateful hearts, let us come together and give thanks for God's enduring grace and love.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment