PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Homily November 12, ?2023

Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption

Reverend Mr. R. Christoph Sandoval, Deacon

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

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The Scriptural Readings of this Sunday’s Liturgy invite us to extend the reflection on eternal life that we began on the occasion of the commemoration of the faithful departed on All Souls Day. On this point there is a clear difference between those who believe and those who do not believe or, one might likewise say, between those who hope and those who do not hope.

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Indeed, Saint Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “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.” Faith in the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ in this realm too is a crucial divide. Saint Paul always reminded the Christians of Ephesus that before accepting the Good News they had been “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world”. Indeed the religion of the Greeks, the pagan cults and myths, were unable to shed light on the mystery of death; thus an ancient inscription said: “how quickly we fall back from nothing to nothing”. If we remove God, we remove Christ and the world falls back into emptiness and darkness. Moreover, this is also confirmed in the expressions of contemporary nihilism of our times that reject all the Christo-centric principles of our faith, in favor of the false belief that our earthly life is all there is and the pursuit of eternal life is meaningless which is the demonic contagion spreads the culture of death in our midst in Pagan America.

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Today’s Gospel is a famous parable that speaks of ten maidens invited to a “wedding feast”, a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven and of eternal life. It is a happy image with which, however, Jesus teaches a truth that calls us into question. In fact, five of those 10 maidens were admitted to the wedding feast because when the bridegroom arrived, they had brought the oil to light their lamps, whereas the other five were left outside because they had been foolish enough not to bring any. What is represented by this “oil”, the indispensable prerequisite for being admitted to the nuptial banquet?

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Saint Augustine and other ancient authors interpreted it as a symbol of love that one cannot purchase but is received as a singular gift from on high, which is reserved within in each one of us to manifest the works of God. “The lamps” which they carry in their hands are their works, as Holy Scripture teaches, “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” True wisdom is making the most of mortal life in order to do works of mercy, for after death this will no longer be possible. When we reawaken for the Last Judgement, it will be made on the basis of the love in action we have shown in our earthly life. This love is a gift of Christ, poured out into us by the Holy Spirit. Those who believe in our God of Love bear within them a beacon of hope, like a lamp to light our pathway through the night beyond death to arrive at the wedding feast of eternal life.

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Let us ask Mary our Mother, to teach us true wisdom, the wisdom that became flesh in Jesus. He is the Way that leads from this life to God, the Eternal Father. The Holy Face of Jesus reveals the Holy Face of the Eternal Father---As Jesus teaches Whoever has seen me has seen the Father and thus gave us a hope to persevere "to the end". This is why the Church addresses the Mother of Jesus with these words: “our life, our sweetness and our hope.” Let us learn from her to live and die in the hope that never disappoints.?

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Near the end of His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ taught His disciples the spiritual meaning of being prepared for the Second Coming by telling the parable of the ten virgins. This lesson can help us understand and feel the importance of preparing ourselves to meet the Lord when He comes again.

According to the parable, everyone falls asleep: both the wise virgins and the foolish ones. It is as if to say that falling asleep is inevitable, a fact of life.

It is not avoiding sleep that differentiates the wise from the foolish.

The parable centers on different symbols: the lamp and the oil. They are common symbols throughout the Bible. The lamp reminds us of Jesus’ invitation to be the light of the world, that the lamp cannot be hidden under a bushel. It reminds us that life should not be wasted and that we can’t hide from life. It also reminds us of the City on a Hill that shines for the wayfarers, so that they can see their goal, just as our lives should shine for others and help them find their way.

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The ten virgins with their lamps especially remind us of a community invited to the wedding feast to celebrate the coming of the Bridegroom with perfect joy. It is the symbol of the Church called to wait joyfully for the coming of Christ.

What about the precious oil?

The lamp needs oil to continue to shine. It is the oil used to keep watch for and welcome the Bridegroom, the oil of welcoming. But oil is also what the Good Samaritan uses to heal the wounds of the man beaten down by life. And above all, oil is what is used to anoint and consecrate the Messiah, He for whom our hearts continuously hope.? Therefore, oil is the sacred symbol of anointing, rich in meaning: a sign of abundance and joy; it cleanses, and is a sign of healing that makes us radiant with beauty, health, and strength. Perhaps it is for this reason the foolish virgins have little luck at the marketplace. There are things in life that we must do alone, things that no one else can do for us. These are situations that we must be prepared for because there won’t be another opportunity.

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The problem of the foolish virgins is not just sleepiness but something more fundamental. They never took care of the lamp that they were given. The Bridegroom even says that they are unrecognizable and that he does not know them. In their lives, they demonstrated that they never cared about the Bridegroom and that is why they are unprepared.

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This is a wakeup call to those among us who come to church with empty lamps. Perhaps the final words of Gospel offer us a final cautioning.

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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."