32nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
MT 25:1-13
MESSAGE
The ten women in today’s Gospel parable have much in common. They were all virgins. They were all invited to a wedding feast. They all had lamps. They all fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom. I am imagining a class of teenage girls in an exclusive school who seem identical in everything.
But when the bridegroom finally arrived, the difference became obvious. While they all had lamps, only half of the ten brought oil to light the lamps. The other five had to hurry to the nearby store to buy their supply. When the crunch time came, the difference was clear for all to see.
Five of the women were serious in their waiting, truly excited at their role in escorting the groom. The other five however, though they seemed to be just like the other five, were shallow or superficial in fulfilling their tasks. What they had was the external paraphernalia, without the necessary internal disposition needed to light their lamps amidst the dark night. Now the class of girls does not seem as homogenous as before.
While all of us may be Christian in heritage, in origin, in education, and in practice, it is good to ask ourselves whether we are truly serious in living out our faith in this dark world; and if we are, do we have the interest, the excitement, the readiness to offer our light to the Lord and to others. Or are we superficial and shallow, having the externals of faith but without the much-required personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, the church’s Bridegroom. If we are of the latter, there is another difference made manifest: the Lord knew the five serious ones but he declared he did not know the five foolish girls.
REFLECT
In light of today’s parable, do you belong to the rank of the wise virgins who live their faith in seriousness, developing a real and living relationship with Jesus? Or do you find yourself still like the foolish virgins, shallow in their faith, missing out on the oil of commitment and dedication to the Lord?
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