Sunday 12 November 2017,
32nd (A)
● Wisdom 6:12-16 ● Psalm 63
●
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ●● Matthew 25:1-13 ● ●
[__01__] As we approach the end of the year, things
get busier for all of us. And, this is the end of our liturgical year in which
we are reading the final chapters of the Gospel of Matthew.
The theme of “ending” is present
today, next Sunday, and the Sunday after that. This Sunday, it is about
·
[READINESS]
·
Next Sunday, the parable of the talents, it
is about [RESPONSIBILITY]
·
And, in the parable of the sheep and the
goats, it is about [REWARD].
[READINESS],
[RESPONSIBILITY],
[REWARD]
[__02__] This Sunday, the [READINESS]
parable is an allegory in which there are symbols by which:
·
You and I are represented
·
Jesus is represented
·
A relationship is represented.
You and I are represented by the ten
bridesmaids by whom the bridegroom is being awaited / welcomed.
Jesus is the bridegroom. And, the
relationship with Jesus is his arrival.
[__03__] This past Wednesday, I was expecting an
arrival of someone to meet, early in the day.
When asked if I were available, I said
YES and responded: “do you want to talk on the phone or to meet in person?”
I received the following message in
response: “I am on my way. I´ll be there
in 19 [nineteen] minutes.”
Precision.
I thought, “am I meeting you or am I
meeting the navigation – direction voice on your phone?”
I hope that I am ready, precisely.
[__04__] Timing. Precision. Preparation.
In the Gospel, Jesus refers to PRECISE
elements of our Christian lives.
What is necessary for you and me to be
a disciple, to be in a relationship with him?
This precision was expressed in last
Sunday’s encounter and explanation regarding the law.
Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest
commandment?”
Not, what is a good commandment, or
what are the top 5, but what is the greatest.
We fact, for example, in school – in
the classroom – or many types of examinations. There MULTIPLE CHOICES
A,
B, C, D. TRUE. FALSE.
And, sometimes it is just one word
that make an entire statement TRUE or
FALSE.
We are called to be precise, at
times, in our answers.
[__05__] Jesus was on the hot seat with the
Pharisees last Sunday. He was being asked not what is a good
commandment but what is the best and greatest commandment.
[*
* * P-A-U-S-E
*
* *]
And, he has an exact answer that to
love the Lord your God with all your whole soul, heart and mind to love your
neighbor as yourself is the greatest commandment. (Matthew 23: __)
Jesus has been precise in his
relationship with his disciples and with us before.
Do we also value precision?
Sometimes, I lack precision,
exactness. And, I use punctuality – or the lack thereof - as an example. Here
goes …
[__06__] A few months ago, I went to dinner, to
meet at a restaurant for dinner my aunt – my mom’s sister and some other family
and friends.
The reservations was at 7:00 pm. I
arrived at 6:59 and ½.
And, my aunt said – with full
sincerity and zero sarcasm: “Wow, you are so early.”
She knows me and knows that on more
than 1 occasion, I have arrived after the appointed time.
In this regard, I would have to
associate myself logically with the foolish bridesmaids of the parable.
Why are they foolish?
[__07__] First of all, I would like to rule out –
eliminate – some reasons that we might presume contribute to their foolishness.
In other words, they are NOT foolish because they lack AWARENESS or because
they are CLUELESS or because they are CARELESS.
Hearing the word FOOLISH, we may
assume the person has no clue or is completely indifferent to the outcome.
Or, that they do not understand the
CAUSE.
The foolish bridesmaids know what the
cause or consequence is going to be. They are begging for oil.
Why do I arrive late sometimes?
Because I am PROCRASTINATING. We use
“PROCRASTINATION” to explain many things.
If so, what is the cause of my
procrastination or the cause of the procrastination of the 5 foolish
bridesmaids.
I’ll tell you one of my causes.
The reason I arrive at 6:59 ½ or later
for a 7:00 pm appointment is because, at times, I don’t recognize my own
importance to the celebration or event.
We all do this.
I figure -- well, they can start
without me.
Sometimes, we do not recognize our own
value to our families, to our friends, or to the task that we are presented
with.
[__08__] The
foolish bridesmaids have an additional hindrance or fault. They don’t lack
PERCEPTION, but they do make an PRESUMPTION.
They PRESUME to know day and the hour.
They PRESUME to know exactly when Jesus, the bridegroom, will arrive.
[__09___] Sometimes, we do the same. We presume to know
exactly what we need in FAITH, in FUEL, in FIDELITY, in
KINDNESS, in REPENTANCE, to reach the end of life.
I presume that that I do not have to
be too kind to certain people in my life. Maybe, I reach a kindness boundary
and I will not go beyond this.
I can also resemble the foolish ones, expecting
Jesus only at certain times or at a certain time. “He will be here in 19 minutes.”
We may behave the same way.
[__10___] And, I suggest that there
are ethical and principled viewpoints that we suggest this type of precision
and PRESUMPTION.
This may not necessarily be beyond the
control of some of us. But I suggest all of us swim in these waters, breathe
this air of what is technology and what certain ethics and technologies can
offer us.
And, such an ethical and principled
viewpoint suggests that we can choose certain things.
For example, some technologies suggest
that you and I are in control of when the clock FALLS BACK, SPRINGS
AHEAD, or HOW MUCH DAYLIGHT we have left before the end of time.
This is particularly true when we
discuss end-of-life issues or death and dying.
[__11___] Movements about the
dignity to die, legalized euthanasia, and the right-to-die suggest – from
ideological standpoint that you and I are in control.
From the Catholic and Christian standpoint,
yes, of course, we certainly can and should alleviate pain for someone who is
physically suffering.
But, the availability of so much data
now about the state of the patient – who might be your wife, mother, husband,
father, child – suggests that we also are to decide about the length of life.
The Gospel reminds us that we know
neither the day nor the hour.
God is in control, precisely.
The wise bridesmaids give us the Good
News, a different lesson, that you and I do not know the timing of Jesus’
arrival.
For this reason, they prepare with
their own precision to welcome him. Home.
He is on His way. [_fin_]
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