WORD ALIVE
Sometime ago, a news item in Divisoria, Manila, related about how burglars broke into a shop. This would not have raised eyebrows at all since the incident took place in a notorious place. What made it amusing was that it happened to a company that manufactures burglar-proof glass windows!
“It never occurred to us,” said the owner of the store, “to put our own burglar-proof glass in our own door.”
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The story shows how oftentimes we take things for granted and how lacking we are in preparedness. This is highlighted in this 32nd Sunday’s parable of the 10 bridesmaids (Mt. 25, 1-13).
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The 10 bridesmaids are watching and waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. The ritual requires the bridesmaids to escort the bridegroom to the wedding celebration. But the bridegroom comes late. So, the bridesmaids doze off.
At midnight a call is made “to come out and meet him.” The bridesmaids rise and trim their oil lamps. But the lamps are sputtering.
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Five of the bridesmaids had the foresight to bring extra oil; five did not. The five who were prepared to keep their lamps burning are able to enter the wedding place with the bridegroom, whereas the five, who were unprepared had to rush off to buy oil. Due to the delay, they were locked out, unable to enter.
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Jesus’ parable sounds as a warning against cramming or last-minute improvisation whether in one’s work or spiritual life. Those who don’t heed God’s call and who lack foresight will find themselves shut out. The message is a fitting sequel to our celebration of All Souls’ Day.
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We should live wisely. We should not be concerned only with our present day-to-day needs and material pursuits but have an eye on our ultimate end. Let us not cram or prepare for it in the last minute. To do so is like starting to pack up when your bus is already in front of your house to fetch you.
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Once there was an aging wealthy man who lived alone and began to make preparation for his demise. He bought a memorial plan along with an expensive coffin. Then he executed his last will and testament. Not too long after, he died of heart failure. This man made provision, but it was for his body only and none for his soul.
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Jesus reminds us to be like the wise virgins. Already now, he tells us: “Store up treasures in heaven.” (Mt 6,20). By “treasures” Jesus refers to our good works while we are still in this world and the faithful observance of the will of God as summed up in the 10 Commandments: “Honor your father and mother; thou shalt not kill; commit adultery; steal; not bear false witness.”
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In his parable of the Last Judgment (Mt 25,31ff.), Jesus stresses to do good works. “When I was hungry you gave me to eat, sick and in prison and you visited me, enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” Pope Francis said, “Our acts of charity are our “passports” to Heaven.
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Let’s live in such a way that in our last moment we may not regret – much like the foolish bridesmaids in today’s parable.
We end with the words of John Dunne. “I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any one, let me do it now. Let me not neglect nor defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
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Send ahead your treasures. One way of doing this is by helping our needy seminarians and sick indigents we are helping like leukemia patient Alison Genesis L. and five-year-old accident victim Joshel C., and others.
For inquiry, e-mail me at: [email protected].
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The lighter side. In the USA, a book titled: “How To Change Your Wife in 30 Days,” sold a million copies in one week. But the author discovered that the title had a spelling error!
The correct title should have been: “How to Change Your Life in 30 Days.” After the correction, for a whole month, only five copies were bought. (Lesson: People are more interested in changing others rather than their own selves).