Be Awake, Watch for God

11-08-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. Arul Doss

Dear People of God,

You might have received the mailing from our Diocese regarding the Annual Appeal. Please pray about this and return your pledge/donation soon. Help us to reach each parish’s target. All money received over our target is returned to our parishes to be used for our own programs and needs. Thank you!!

In this thirty second Sunday, the readings encourage us to seek the Lord and always be ready to welcome him. God Himself is Wisdom. He who finds and receives Him, will have the fullness of life in Christ Jesus. Therefore, we must ask God to grant us a share in His wisdom in order to know what to do at all time.

In today’s first reading, we are reminded that “wisdom is found by only those who look for her.” Here Wisdom is personified as a woman. Hence, it only takes a “wise man” to go out in search of her. The wise man does this with patience and hope, and so, never gives up until he has found Wisdom. With Wisdom, we are better Christians and more equipped to face the challenges of this life.

Unfortunately, we neglect the fact that God granted us wisdom in order to know how to seek and worship Him. Without wisdom, our spirituality remains shallow and un-balanced. With wisdom, we seek, find and worship God who Himself is Wisdom. To find Wisdom is to find God.

In the gospel of today, Jesus uses the parable of the ten virgins to teach us how we must be prepared and vigilant to meet our Lord. Five of the virgins waiting for the bridal train were wise, while five were foolish. What separates these two categories of waiters is that same thin line that separates wisdom and foolishness, heaven and hell, or good and evil.

It is the duty of the servant to wait patiently for his master’s to return. Therefore, the moment of waiting should not be a weary moment for us. Rather, it should be a moment of grace to be well prepared. We must not become victims of the eleventh hour.

Why were the other virgins not charitable? The answer is simple. That would have been the most stupid thing to do at that moment. This is because, half way into the party, all the oil will finish and everyone will be in darkness. Second, there is no excuse for the foolish virgins not to have sufficient oil in their lamps because they had the time to prepare.

Jesus is on the way! His “delay”, should not be an excuse for us not to be ready. Rather, it should be an opportunity to be prepared and wait for him. So, our song every moment and time must be: “For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God. My body pines for you like a dry weary land without water!”

Have a Happy and Blessed Sunday!!
Fr. Doss