Homily Thirty-Second Sunday of Year A:
Michael Ufok Udoekpo
·
Wis 6:12-16
·
Ps 63:2,3-4,5-7
·
1 Thes 4:13-18
·
Matt 25:1-13
Christ Is the Source of Our Wisdom and
Kingdom Readiness
As we approach the end of the liturgical
year it is so fitting that we have the scripture readings of today which
provide us the source of kingdom readiness, to stay awake, to be prepared to meet the
Lord when he comes. Reaching the heavenly kingdom of God needs preparations, including,
through death in Christ, which begins here on earth!
In the Gospel of Matthew today a parable is
allegorically presented about ten virgins in light of the kingdom of God. It was
a typical village parable familiar to the original Palestinian readers and
audience. Five, wise virgins were prepared with oil waiting for the bridegroom,
Christ; while the other five, foolish ones were not prepared, and hadn’t enough
oil when the master Christ, arrived! Even, though both of them, the ten were asleep
when the Lord arrived, at least five were prepared with oil to meet him.
This reminds us of the point Saint Paul is
making in the Second reading: “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and
sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like
the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too
will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (1 Thess
4:13-18).
As
we journey through our Christian life with various sacramental preparations in
love, charity, forgiveness, show of mercy to others, reaching out to the poor
and the oppressed, we must be hopeful as well in the resurrection of those who
have fallen asleep in the Lord, and gone before us, mark with the sign of
faith, hope and love. For the ultimate preparation for the heavenly kingdom of
God, starts here on earth. It includes how we prepare for our deaths. It
include how we wisely treat one another, carry out our vows, commitments, covenants,
responsibilities in the fear of the Lord and how we minister to those in the margins.
In the parable of the ten virgins, even
though the sensible five were asleep, momentarily, yet they were unlike the
foolish ones, wisely prepared for the coming of the Lord, with their oil, which
were non-transferable, a reminder of personal preparations!
It is this Lady Wisdom, God (hochma, Sophia) of the first
reading (Wis 6:12-16, cf. other wisdom books and literature), which Solomon
sought in the beginning of his administration (1 Kgs 2-3), that we seek in order
to be orderly prepared for the coming of God’s Kingdom. This wisdom is sitting
in our gates. It is the breath of God, his spirit, his wind, his pneuma, the Holy Sprit. It is written in our hearts. It is in the 10 commandments. It is in the teachings about
the fear of the Lord, the precepts transmitted in the teachings of the Church:
modesty, administrative prudence, love, charity, forgiveness, kindness (hesed)
misphat (justice), sadeqqah (righteousness) emet (truth), peace
(shalom), compassion and inclusiveness that Pope Francis daily encourage us.
May we remain, sharers and partakers of God’
Wisdom as we prepare for our death, and ultimately, the Kingdom of God!
Reflection Question
1.
In your Christian journeys so far, among which
group do you find yourself- the five wise virgins or the five foolish ones?
2.
How do you daily and wisely prepare for the
Kingdom?
3.
And how do you help members of your faith
community/work environment, in this endeavor?
