“Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Summary
Remembrance Sunday is set aside for us to remember those whose lives were lost in conflict: combatants and civilians, allies and enemies alike. As we reflect on the horror of conflict we re-commit ourselves to peace.
On a day when we consider the folly of war our readings focus on wisdom: Wisdom 6:12-26, assures us that wisdom and discernment are available to all; affirming that humanity IS capable of choosing paths of peace and goodness.
Matthew 25:1-13 gives us the story of wise and foolish bridesmaids.
It would be easy to assume that this is a straightforward call to be counted among the wise. The wise ones, after all, are the ones who gain entry to the banquet. But in most respects the wise ones and the foolish ones are exactly alike: they ALL turn up, they ALL wait, they ALL fall asleep, the ALL wake up and trim their lamps when they hear that the bridegroom is coming. What sets the wise ones apart is not their preparedness, it is their selfishness. They will not share their lamp oil with those who have none. They don’t care if they are left out in the darkness. They only wish to make sure that they themselves gain entry.
Isn’t this exactly the kind of behaviour that leads to conflict?
We all desire a peaceful future but do we desire it for everyone or would we still prefer to divide the world in good and evil, wise and unwise, friends and enemies?
Jesus promises us that peace in our world is possible but only if everyone is invited in.
FIRST READING
Wisdom 6:12-26
“Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
and she is easily discerned by those who love her,
and is found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,
and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,
and she graciously appears to them in their paths,
and meets them in every thought.”
GOSPEL
Matthew 25.1-13
Jesus spoke this parable to the disciples:
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
