BEFORE IT’S LATE - Jose Antonio Pagola

THIRTY SECOND IN ORDINARY TIME

BEFORE IT’S LATE

Jose Antonio Pagola

Matthew 25, 1-13

Photo: praisesnprayers.com

“At that time 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 took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Matthew wrote his gospel in critical times for the followers of Jesus. The coming of Christ was being delayed too long. The faith of many people was growing weak. It was necessary to reawaken the spirit of their earlier conversion.

Motivated by this concern, he put together three parables of Jesus and worked a profound message into them to recall all to responsibility:

·     “Do not wait for others to give you oil to light your lamps; you yourself have to take care of              your  faith.
·      Do not be satisfied with burying your talent in the ground; you have to take risks to make it            productive.
·      Do not wait for Christ to appear to you; you can find him now itself in all who suffer.”

The first parable speaks of a wedding feast . Full of joy, a group of virgins goes out to meet the groom. Not all of them are well prepared. Some take oil with them to light their lamps; others have not even thought of doing so. It’s enough to carry lamps in their hands.

Since the bridegroom was a long time in coming, “they all felt drowsy and fell asleep”. The problem begins when the arrival of the bridegroom is announced. The wise virgins light their lamps and enter with him to join in the banquet. The foolish ones are obliged to go out to buy oil. By the time they return “the door is shut”. It’s too late.

It’s a mistake to try to find the secret meaning of the oil: is it a metaphor for spiritual fervor, of the interior life, of good works, of love…? The parable is simply a call to live our attachment to Christ responsibly and truly now itself, before it is too late. Every one will know what he has to take care of.

It is irresponsible to call ourselves Christian and live our religion without making any effort to resemble him. It is a mistake to live self-satisfied in the Church, without a true resolve to be converted to Gospel values. It is the mark of an unenlightened Christian to call oneself a follower of Jesus, and not join the project of God he wants to see happen.

In these times in which it is so easy to grow slack, become skeptical, and continue living safely the way one has got used to, I find only one way of being in the Church: converting myself to Jesus Christ.

Translated by Rev. Valentine De Souza SJ