Be prepared with the oil of good deeds…

A tour group was riding in an elevator to the top of the Empire State Building.  At about the 102nd floor, a woman asked the tour guide, “If the cables on this elevator break, do we go up or down?”  The tour guide answered, “Well, that depends on how you are living.”

The month of November is dedicated to praying for our loved ones. We celebrated All Saints Day and All Souls day. We celebrate Mass of Remembrance this weekend. It is an opportunity to remember all those who have passed from last November to this November, remember them with names and join their families with prayer.

We are towards the end of the liturgical year and the reading reminds us about being prepared. This weekend all three reading one way or other way talks about wisdom. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, wisdom is embodied as a woman. Wisdom is a gift from God. It comes to those who are worthy and searching to receive. In the second reading, Paul shares the Christian Wisdom with early Christians in Thessalonians that through death and resurrection Jesus saves us. His second coming will be soon.

In the Gospel, we see wise and foolish women. At a wedding, we are familiar with the groom waiting for the bride. It is not that long either. During Jesus’ time, they had different customs. Once they are engaged, they are considered as couples, but they both live with their parents. The wedding could take place anytime within two weeks. The groom will come to get the bride for the wedding. So the bride had to be in a state of constant alert during those two weeks. Those days there was not much means to inform. The groom does not inform in advance, he could come any time during this period. When the groom went to the bride’s house to pick her up for the wedding he would have to negotiate with her relatives the gifts he would give for the privilege of being able to marry her. Sometimes it could drag on for a time. There is a lot happening during this time. All of sudden, there was an announcement for bridesmaids to come out to meet the bridegroom. The bridegroom will send a man before him along the street to should, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming.” We know five of the ten virgins, they didn’t have enough oil to go out and meet.

Matthew 25:10 says, “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.” We read in the book of Revelation 19:9, “Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.” The wise one had extra oil, and they were prepared, so they could enter for the wedding feast.

The question for us, how can we be ready? Matthew 7: 24, we read, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” Our good deeds are the oil for the lamp, being prepared to receive the bridegroom, Jesus.
 

Veterans Day: Veterans served our country. We honor them for their many sacrifices. Let us thank them for their dedication and commitment. Happy Veterans Day!
 
Congratulations to our First Reconciliation students and parents: They are preparing for First Reconciliation and making their Commitment ceremony this weekend, lets congratulate them and include them in our daily prayer.