Since this is our Comedy Night/Beef Steak Dinner weekend, I thought I would start with a joke.
There was a man who was once in financial trouble. He could barely support himself and his family. Then he got an idea. He would go back to Church and ask for God’s help. He was a little nervous at first, but he finally made it through the doors. He knelt down in the back pew and prayed: “God, if you’re up there, please help me win the lottery so I can support my family.”
He came back day after day and made the same prayer. But nothing seemed to happen. Weeks passed, then months. Finally, on a Friday, he was making his regular visit and praying his regular prayer: “God, if you’re up there, please help me win the lottery.” And much to his astonishment, the ceiling opened and a thunderous voice from heaven answered him: “OK, fine. But will you at least please buy a ticket?!”
How often we are like that! We want all that God promises he will give us, but we refuse to do our part; we are too lazy or fearful to take the little risk of learning to pray, or going to confession, or studying the faith with as much interest as we study the sports page.
Wisdom is personified in today’s First Reading, which is one way that the Old Testament has of speaking about God: personified Wisdom. In this reading, Wisdom is given two key characteristics. First she is someone eager to bring her gifts to us. But second, at the same time, Wisdom depends on our being eager to receive them.
This is because our relationship with God is a friendship; it is based on freedom and love. He won’t force himself on us; he respects us too much. God wants our love and our friendship, not our slavery. So he invites, but has to leave it up to us to respond.
“Wisdom hastens to make herself known…” the First Reading tells us, but “whoever watches for her… shall not be disappointed”. The right attitude of our hearts in relation to God, then, is active searching, which results from cultivating a deep desire for God.
This is what today’s Psalm is all about: “My soul is thirsting for you.” And this ties into today’s Gospel passage.
The foolish virgins didn’t prepare themselves adequately for the wedding feast. They didn’t take it seriously. They were careless and superficial in their relationship with the bridegroom, not eager, intelligent and active in their pursuit of wisdom. It’s as if they called themselves Christians and it appeared on the outside that they were, but it was just appearances. Their lamps were empty; they did not lead deep lives of prayer; they did not love Jesus Christ in their hearts; they did not truly seek the Lord.
Imagine if you had the talent and health to be an all-star quarterback. Would you be satisfied with coaching from the couch each week? Of course not. You would go and make a difference. You would do what you could to fulfill your potential.
Well, quarterbacks come and go, even good ones, even great ones. But faithful Christians last forever – they are called saints.
When God created each one of us, he gave us the “talent,” the potential to become a saint. And in this Mass he gives us the nourishment we need to fulfill that potential, to reach the heights of holiness right in the midst of our normal activities, whatever they may be. So are we going to fritter all that away like spiritual couch potatoes as the world around us, and our family members, and our colleagues and friends, suffer because God’s love and wisdom hasn’t penetrated their lives?
What a waste, what foolishness! Why not shoot for the stars, why not shoot for wisdom, why not start putting in place a spiritual work-out program that can make us into what God created us to be: a bright, sturdy lighthouse in this dark world of shipwrecked souls.
A good place to start is by inviting them to come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where they can lay the burdens of their sins before Christ Jesus, and be washed cleaned by his merciful love. It is also a good place to get some spiritual coaching as well.
We can also invite them to join us for some adult faith formation. Why not kick off the Church’s New Year -- Advent -- by join us for the ANIMA series. In the ANIMA series, Bishop Donald Hying leads us through an inspiring account of how God’s plan for the world gives each of us great dignity and purpose. He recounts that through Christ’s Incarnation, Resurrection, and the Institution of the Church, God reveals the meaning of all life. Accompanied by stirring music, stunning videography, and insightful narration, this three-part series will instigate further meditation on how you can respond to Christ’s sacrifice and continue carrying out his mission in his Church. Rich Scanlon, our Director of Evangelization & Discipleship Formation, is still working out the dates and times so stay tuned to the parish bulletin, but if you would be interested, drop him a line by emailing him or calling him at the office
During this Mass, as Christ renews his commitment to us, let’s renew our commitment to him, to being his messengers and companions. In the end, keeping that lamp full is all that matters.