32nd Sunday of the Year A
Readings: Wisdom 6:12-16 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Mathew 25:1-13
Theme: Be prepared!
Today is the 32nd Sunday of the ordinary time of the Year A. The theme of our reflection for this Sunday is being prepared. This theme reflects in all the readings we have for this Sunday. In our journey of faith, it is important that we live our lives at all times in a way that is pleasing to God. That way, we will always be ready and prepared to respond to Gods call whenever he beckons on us. Dear friends in Christ, if we can live our lives in such a way that we are guided by love of God and neighbour, we will be ready and prepared at all times; just like the five wise virgins in the Gospel reading for this Sunday.
The 1st reading we have today from the book of Wisdom, admonishes us about the need for us to seek the gift of wisdom in our lives. It is a gift that we as children of God should desire to have in our lives, if we truly want to be ready and prepared like the five wise virgins. The wisdom of God can be found by those who love God and seek it. Therefore, a very important question we need to ask ourselves today is, do you love God and also seek his wisdom? Those who appreciate the wisdom of God will give anything to have it. We see that in the request of King Solomon from God; he requested for wisdom from God to guide him as a king and God blessed him abundantly. If you want wisdom, then seek it and you will find it. Jesus is the true wisdom! We all need Jesus in our lives. When you seek him and find him, you have the fullness of wisdom. Resolve to seek him today and your life will never remain the same.
In the 2nd reading, we see the Thessalonian church is worried about their dead. In view of this, St. Paul presents to them a message of hope, by reminding them about the resurrection and the fact that Jesus has conquered death. The most important thing for us as children of God is not to be worried about death, but to be ready and prepared at all times. So that whenever God invites us to come back to him, we will not be caught un-prepared like the foolish five virgins in the Gospel we have for this Sunday. If we are prepared at all times, the fear of death and its outcome will be greatly reduced, if not completely eradicated.
The Gospel emphasizes the need for us to be prepared like the five wise virgins, so that when the Bridegroom comes we will be ready to meet him. The five wise virgins can be likened to people who have lived a life that is pleasing to God, while the five foolish virgins may be likened to those who have allowed the distractions of the world to keep them away from living like true children of God. Dear friends in Christ, we have to decide which group of the virgins we want to belong to; is it the five wise virgins or the five foolish virgins? Remember that whatever choice we make, has a consequence and we have to be responsible for our decision.
May God grant us the grace to seek and find him. Peace be with you. Amen.