We are quickly coming to the conclusion of the liturgical year which comes to its end at the end of November with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. With this reality set before us we begin to place our focus upon the end of time. There will come a day when Christ will come again. Until then we must heed the words of Sacred Scripture for we know not the time nor the hour. No matter how much we attempt to escape it’s grasp death will catch up with each of us. Therefore, we must place our attention upon the four last things which are death, judgement, Heaven, and hell.
In our Gospel we are given this image into such a reality. We encounter ten women, but only five of them were found prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom. We were instructed that he was delayed which caused issue with the five who were unprepared. Of the ten we are told that they each became drowsy and fell asleep. Upon waking five ran out of oil which means that they missed their encounter with the bridegroom for whom they had laid in wait.
Saint Augustine identifies this drowsiness and sleep as their death. This fits in perfectly with what is taking place around this passage in chapters 24 and 25 of Saint Matthew’s Gospel. These chapters concern themselves with the last things which include the final judgement. It is of this final judgement that we are instructed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death.”
To Saint Augustine the oil of these lamps is associated with one’s good works. They are unable to give their oil to another for the other has not performed what the faith had called them to. These five who ran out of oil squandered the time that was set before them while the other five were found prepared. Through their preparation they were ready to encounter the bridegroom. They made full use of the gift that God had bestowed upon them through the gift of faith.
We too are like these women. There will come that day that we will grow drowsy and fall asleep. At this unknown hour we will be judged. In our life we have been given the gift of faith through our baptism, but we must now live it. To be baptized decades ago does not mean that we have nothing to do when it pertains to faith. From the waters we were sent forth to live as a new creation which has been claimed for Christ Jesus. Do we live in such a way or do we only live for this world?
Thankfully, we still have time to store up the oil that is necessary to encounter the bridegroom. We will have time to store up this oil until we have been called home to God through death. Until this moment comes our lamps must shine brightly. As we are told in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Likewise, in all that we do our life must be found reflective of our Father who is in Heaven. As we move towards the end of this liturgical year, enter into Advent, and prepare ourself for the coming of Christ let us further reflect on what we must do if we are to be found prepared for the coming of the bridegroom.
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