Homily for 32d Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
32d Sunday of Ordinary Time

Nov. 8, 2020
Matt 25: 1-13                                    
St. Pius X, Scarsdale                       
St. Joseph, New Rochelle

November is popularly known as the month of the holy souls.  On Nov. 2 we commemorated all of the faithful departed who have not yet reached their goal of perfect union with Christ and face-to-face vision of the Holy Trinity, which theologians call the beatific vision, the blessed vision of God, the vision that fulfills the deepest desire that every one of us has for perfect and unending happiness.  The holy souls, also called “the poor souls in purgatory,” are still being cleansed of the last traces of sin from their hearts.

Every human being at the end of his or her life must come to a reckoning before Jesus Christ, who—as the Creed states—will come to judge the living and the dead, those who are still living on earth at that moment as well as those who’ve already died, as St. Paul discusses in the 2d reading (1 Thess 4:13-18).  Our Lord today tells us, his disciples, a parable to warn us to be ready for his coming.

The Bible is full of comparisons and contrasts about wisdom and foolishness, including in Jesus’ teachings.  In general, wisdom means listening to and obeying God’s law, and foolishness means ignoring it.  Wisdom means living a virtuous life, and foolishness means leading a wicked life.

Thus in the parable, 10 virgins—representing the Church—are waiting for a bridegroom to arrive.  Since apostolic times, the Church has understood that Christ is her bridegroom.  The 5 wise virgins have oil for their lamps.  Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount that Christians are the light of the world, and they must let their light shine upon all of humanity so that people may see our good works and give glory to God (Matt 5:14-16).  This light is our love, our fidelity, our devotion, all manner of goodness.

And the 5 foolish virgins are lacking all that.  When the bridegroom arrives—when Jesus returns for the Judgment—it’s too late for his negligent would-be followers to get ready, to light their lamps.  They’ll be left out in the dark, out in the cold, out of the wedding feast, the banquet of eternal life, while the wise will be admitted and will enjoy an eternal party with Christ our Lord.

Jesus concludes with a stern warning:  “Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matt 25:13).

What does it mean to stay awake?  The same as to have our lamps alight:  to practice virtue day by day, to pray diligently, to deal honestly with everyone, to care for our families and those who are in need.  “Thus we shall always be with the Lord,” as St. Paul says (1 Thess 4:17), both now and forever.