Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 12 November 2023 Mass Reading Reflection for 12 November 2023
Gospel: Matthew 25: 1-13
This is a typical Christian parable. Jesus told this parable to a crowd that followed Him, apparently leaving the Jewish leadership behind. They left behind the old but ran the risk of failing Jesus. It is one thing to appear to belong to Jesus and a totally different thing to belong to Jesus truly. The tree is recognized by its fruits. A true disciple is proved by the light one has. The light that shines while doing the typical Christian things.
We are amazed by the light but often fail to recognize the oil behind the flame. Jesus, through this famous parable, is reminding us of the importance of oil, and the importance of conserving it for the important hour. The story is unspecific about the reason for having little oil with the foolish five. One might have forgotten about it, another might have used it up for a lesser important event, and a third might have spilled it carelessly. They had only one assignment, have the lamp ready and conserve the oil for the hour. How miserable for the five to miss the key part of their assignment.
This story tells of our lives here on earth, as well as the future that awaits us. The oil has to be conserved well and handy for the right hour.
There are only a few things that deserve the precious oil, i.e., the energy, and enthusiasm. Don’t spoil them, don’t forget them, and don’t overspend them, lest you don’t have them when they are needed the most.
Our Lord meets us every day. He will meet us at our premises. He expects us to meet with our lamps shining. He expects us to have enough light to see and welcome Him as He arrives. Alas, some spend their oil on lesser important events and persons. This is a possible danger that awaits you if you are not a careful Christian.
It is important to conserve our oil for the typical Christian things. We need to burn our oil to welcome the Bridegroom, Jesus, in our day-to-day lives. He may visit us at an unearthly hour, but He is sure to visit. We ought to welcome him with bright lamps. Welcoming Jesus at any hour with the shining lamp is the typical Christian thing.
He may be wearing the garment of a wretched man in dire need. He may appear as someone needing your forgiveness. He may appear as lonely and dejected looking for some consolation and accompaniment to keep going on in life. When you burn your oil for such people, you are doing the typical Christian things; you are burning the oil for the bridegroom today. The sacraments, prayer, and reading of the Bible are meant to replenish the oil. Keep the oil and lamp ready and walk into the eternal bridal chamber with luminous lamps.
Amen.
