32nd SUNDAY YEAR A MASS, GOSPEL AND COMMENTARY . “STAY AWAKE, FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR” (Mt 25:1-13).
The parable of the ten virgins
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Gospel Commentary from the Navarre Bible, Commentary of the Gospel of St. Matthew (with permission)
- 1-13 The main lesson of this parable has to do with the need to be on the alert:
- in practice, this means having the light of faith, which is kept alive with the oil of charity. Jewish weddings were held in the house of the bride’s father.
- The virgins are young unmarried girls, bridesmaids who are in the bride’s house waiting for the bridegroom to arrive.
- The parable centres on the attitude one should adopt up to the time when the bridegroom comes. In other words, it is not enough to know that one is “inside” the Kingdom, the Church: one has to be on the watch and be preparing for Christ’s coming by doing good works.
- This vigilance should be continuous and unflagging, because the devil is forever after us, prowling around “like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (I Pet 5:8).
- “Watch with the heart, watch with faith, watch with love, watch with charity, watch with good works…; make ready the lamps, make sure they do not go out …; renew them with the inner oil of an upright conscience; then shall the Bridegroom enfold you in the embrace of his love and bring you into his banquet room, where your lamp can never be extinguished” (St Augustine, Sermon, 93).
SEE AS WELL:
32ND SUNDAY IN ODINARY TIME YEAR A MASS PRAYERS AND READINGS HERE.
AND
REFLECTION HOMILY FOR THIS SUNDAY HERE, HERE, AND HERE.
VIDEO COMMENTARY FROM THE COUPLES OF CHRIST INTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN, BONG ARJONILLO
TOPIC: Do procrastinate a lot?
We all have desires and goals in life. All of us want to live long, perhaps, with the goal of seeing our children and grandchildren well settled before we pass on. Or, we resolve to go on diet and exercise to keep fit and healthy and to look good. Maybe we have decided to tidy up our place by throwing away old stuff and organizing our things. But we also seem to not getting our goals achieved. We have procrastinated all along. In today’s gospel (Matthew 25:1-13), Jesus tells the parable of the ten young women – a message of being prepared for his final coming. The bridegroom in the story is Jesus and the bridesmaids represent the Church. In Jesus’ time, the bridesmaids were to escort the bridegroom with their lamps to his home where the wedding will take place .
Nov. 8, 2020: HOLY MASS