Sunday, November 12, 2023

“At midnight there was a cry ‘Behold the Bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then the wise virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise ‘Give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones said ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.” Matthew 25:6-9.

“Faith is not a light that scatters all our darkness but a lamp that guides our steps in the night.” Pope Francis.

Lord Jesus You are here, to meet us at every moment. Enliven our hearts today, to seek You, to receive You. May we not grow weary and distracted by our human wants, but rather be vigilant, finding You everywhere and growing in union with You. Amen.

Domingo 12 de noviembre 2023

"A medianoche se oyó un grito: '¡Viene el novio! ¡Salgan a su encuentro!'. Entonces las jovenes se levantaron y arreglaron sus lámparas. Las descuidadass dijeron a las precavidas: "Denos un poco de su aceite, porque nuestras lámparas se están apagando". Pero las precavidas dijeron: 'No, porque puede que no haya suficiente para nosotros y para ustedes'. Mateo 25:6-9.

"La fe no es una luz que dispersa todas nuestras tinieblas, sino una lámpara que guía nuestros pasos en la noche". Papa Francisco.

Señor Jesús, estás aquí, para encontrarte con nosotros en cada momento. Aviva nuestros corazones hoy, para buscarte, para recibirte. Que no nos cansemos ni nos distraigamos con nuestras necesidades humanas, sino que estemos vigilantes, encontrándote en todas partes y creciendo en unión contigo. Amén.

Homily for Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time by Deacon Mike Betliskey

When discussing Heaven during the Faith Formation session, I contrast those who question its existence with those who believe in it through songs. In When I Die, David Clayton Thomas “swears there is no Heaven but will not know until he dies.” He is unsure about the existence of Heaven.
However, the following three songs align closely with the Church’s teaching on Heaven and vigilance for the Lord’s coming. The Impressions sang, “People, get ready. There is a train coming.” As a modern-day rendering of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, they wait at the train depot of earthly life for the train to Heaven. The five foolish ones have no ticket to Heaven, while the five wise have a ticket.
Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky encouraged listeners to “Prepare yourself. You know you must. Gonna have a friend named Jesus. So you know when you die, He recommends you to the spirit in the sky.” Similarly, Pacific Gas and Electric asked, “Are you ready to sit on your throne, for someone is coming to take you home.”
Through the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus asked the crowds before His death and us today, “Are you ready?” These ten virgins symbolized those waiting for the wedding celebration to begin while the bride’s and groom’s fathers haggled over the dowry. Such haggling symbolized the esteemed value of the bride. However, for us, instead of the father’s bride paying the dowry, Christ, the bridegroom, has paid our dowry with His life on the cross. Christ’s death opens up and makes ready Heaven for us, the bride. He has prepared the heavenly wedding feast with the Eucharistic banquet as a foretaste.
The big difference between the foolish and wise virgins is prepared vigilance. The five foolish virgins represent unprepared, not vigilant Christians who had not tended to their lamps of faith. Their ears were dull to the call of the Lord. They would eventually stand outside calling upon the Lord who did not know them because they did not get to know Him.
On the other hand, the five wise, thoughtful, farsighted ones were vigilant in preparing to celebrate the wedding feast. Norman Greenbaum urges us to prepare ourselves. Preparation meant more than declaring oneself as a follower but having a constant and growing relationship with Christ through prayer and living a Christ-like life. They had extra oil for their lamps filled with God’s gifts of Wisdom, Faith, and Hope.
The First Reading reminds us that wisdom remains vigilant at the door of one’s heart, waiting for one to open to the Lord and empowering one to see from God’s perspective. She brings balance and understanding to one’s life, enabling one to accept God’s will with levelheadedness and clarity.
The Impressions once sang, “We need faith to know that Jesus is coming.” Faith has the power to ignite the tiny, flickering light within one’s heart by strengthening one’s relationship with the Lord. Believing in God also calls one to love, serve, and bear witness to others while one remains watchful for the heavenly wedding banquet.
Hope keeps the flickering light burning in one’s heart by creating a deep desire to see God in Heaven. It strengthens one’s resolve to follow the Lord and reminds one that one is not alone on one’s faith journey.
Therefore, we must ensure that our lamps are always burning with extra oil so that we are ready for the heavenly train to come and board with the five wise and farsighted virgins.