Therefore, Stay Awake, For You Know Neither the Day nor the Hour

11-12-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

Robert Baden-Powell, the English soldier who founded the Boy Scouts published the motto, “Be Prepared” in his 1908 handbook, Scouting for Boys. He wrote that to be prepared meant “you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.” A wise person ensures that he stays prepared for any event or activity, especially the ones for which he has been afforded previous information. The Readings at the Liturgy this weekend invite us to make the wise decision of staying awake and prepared for the coming of God’s Kingdom among us.

In the First Reading, Wisdom is readily perceived by those who love her. Those who seek her, find her, and those who keep vigil and watch for her are considered wise. Their watchfulness will be rewarded with their being set free from care.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus tells His Disciples the parable of the ten virgins to illustrate the need for us to stay watchful and prepared for the coming Christ, the Bridegroom. In this parable, the five virgins who carried their lamps as well as oil, indicating their watchful preparedness for any eventuality, are categorized by Jesus as wise virgins while those who brought lamps but no extra oil are classified as foolish. Notice that the state of readiness determined what category under which each virgin was categorized. When the Bridegroom delayed in arriving, the unwise left in order to obtain the required extra oil and were ultimately denied entrance into the hall for the feast when they eventually returned.

Like all ten virgins, everyone has been offered an invitation to the marriage feast of Christ our Bridegroom. God expects each of us to attend this feast sufficiently prepared. Sometimes we find that we have positively responded to God’s invitation with faith (our lamps for the feast) but we forget to come along with good deeds (the oil that would make our preparation for the coming of Christ sufficient). This is unfortunate. If we are wise, we ought to show our prudence and foresight by bringing along not only faith, but also verifiable acts of kindness, compassion and charity towards others as we await patiently and trustfully the final perfection of the Kingdom of God among us. It will be sad if we are found to be foolish by professing profound faith in Jesus that is devoid of good deeds.

May God strengthen our resolve to stay sufficiently prepared for the coming of Christ.

Please be kind and may God bless you.

Fr. Manasseh