Watching, Waiting, Living

  

In our Gospel today we hear the Story of the Ten Virgins.  Five were foolish and five were wise.  The five who were wise were prepared and brought extra oil for their lamps to keep them lit.  Five were unprepared and did not bring extra oil to keep their lamps lit. They needed lamp oil when the bridegroom came.  The bridegroom came and those who were ready were welcomed into the wedding feast.  The others had to go to buy oil for their lamps and when they returned, they were not permitted to enter the feast.

This story reminds us that we are in the home stretch of the Liturgical Year.  In one month, we will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent and begin the new Liturgical Year.  We are called today to look at our faith.  In many ways the oil in this story represents our faith.  Each day we are called to keep working on our faith and live it.  When we don’t live our faith, we see that in many ways we are unprepared.

Yesterday I was at the burial of a family member.  As we were leaving his wife asked me, “He is in Heaven, isn’t he?”  In the midst of her grief, she wanted the assurance that her beloved husband was in Heaven with God.  My heart ached for her, and my response was an emphatic “yes!”  I believe in my innermost being that he is with God and at peace.  He suffered terribly with cancer and fought valiantly. When there was no more hope for a cure, he placed his trust in God and journey toward his final day.

Watching, waiting, living our faith is part of who we are.  We must be ready today and everyday to give life and witness to the faith that God has given to us.  May we always be alert and prepared.