ENOUGH OIL FOR OUR LAMPS

 

SUNDAY, THIRTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Wis 6:12-16; Ps 63:2-8; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Mt 25:1-13

The Wise and Foolish Virgins

Wisdom features prominently in today's readings. Wisdom is such a lofty virtue that the Eternal Word is called Wisdom himself. He is the Father's wisdom, and we see it at work everywhere in his creation. He exists in everything and directs all things to their proper end. Wisdom’s presence in creation prompts us to see the whole creation as a divine school for man. Though we are made in the image of God, we are not born wise; each of us needs to listen attentively to imbibe or cultivate wisdom from creation and the operations of natural things. Because the word of God that brought things into existence still governs their operations, wisdom is present and active among us. “Wisdom is bright, and does not grow dim. By those who love her she is readily seen, and found by those who look for her. Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them.” This means that wisdom is not visible to everyone, but to those who sincerely seek her. By keeping us in his creation, governed by wisdom, God has already destined us to be taught by wisdom to become like God. We must desire wisdom before wisdom can take us as disciples or students.

The desire to be wise is natural, but many people lack it because of original sin. Because original sin weakened our natural vision, we struggle to awaken the desire to understand, to know, and to act according to our nature. We only need to desire, and wisdom will come to our aid. “Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them. Watch for her early and you will have no trouble; you will find her sitting at your gates.” The Scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Thus, our desire for wisdom is not direct, but through our desire to do God’s will and please him. When we desire to please God, we long for his word and harbour it when we hear it. Such a desire is the foundation of spiritual life; it is the origin of prayer, a gift originally received within our nature which sin blurs. Recognition of God as our life and goal is already the presence and operation of wisdom within us. The psalmist expresses this desire. “O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. So, I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory.” Without this prayerful gazing at the Lord in his sanctuary within us, we cannot see wisdom operative everywhere in the world and in our lives.

We all live in the same world, and may even live in the same house. But we process daily events differently. Depending on the light each of us possesses, some things are visible and clear to some, while to others they remain obscure and confusing. We receive spiritual light from the word of God and not from any physical source. Therefore, we attain wisdom through prayer, meditation, and contemplation of the word of God. The parable of the ten virgins our Lord gave us makes this clear. We are these virgins, for God made all of us so that we may house his Eternal Word. So, our quest in this life must be to possess the Eternal Word of God within us. All who seek the face of God are virgins betrothed to the Word. We all set out to meet the bridegroom, to understand our life here on earth and enter eternal life. We have extra oil for our lamp to seek him in this world if we have a sustained desire to know and do the will of the Father. It is to make ample time for prayer, meditation, and contemplation of the word of God. “So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul shall be filled as with a banquet; my mouth shall praise you with joy.”

To be foolish is to spend more time in worldly engagement than in contemplation of divine mysteries. The hallmark of foolishness is disordered values. Our Christian vocation is a journey into the mystery of Jesus Christ; it is a continuous transformation into him through a continuous interior walk in prayer. It is also a continuous death to self and to the world. Therefore, we are lucky if we die this required death every day and become more alive in the company of the Eternal Wisdom. Saint Paul, therefore, admonished us not to grieve for those whose lives were characterised by this death and have now transited to be with the Lord. “We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him.” We must make every effort to be found with the desire to know, love, and serve the Lord at all times. If we are found blinded by other desires at the time the Saviour comes to us, then we would be judged among the foolish virgins. The Lord warns us to be awake. “So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.” We pray for God’s grace to remain vigilant in prayer like the psalmist. “On my bed I remember you. On you I muse through the night for you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings, I rejoice.”

Let us pray: Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.