Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel this Sunday, Our Lord gives us the parable of the ten bridesmaids, five wise and five foolish, who go out to meet the bridegroom. All ten carry lamps, all ten are waiting, and all ten grow tired as the hours pass. But when the bridegroom finally arrives, only five are ready to welcome him. It is a parable about the importance of being prepared, not simply for the unexpected events of life, but above all for the coming of Christ. The bridegroom represents Our Lord, and the wedding feast is an image of the Kingdom of Heaven. The delay reminds us that the Christian life requires patience, perseverance and, above all, faithfulness. The oil in the lamps is particularly significant. It represents that interior life of grace which cannot simply be borrowed from somebody else or acquired at the last moment. We cannot live on the faith of our parents, the goodness of our friends or the religious practice of those around us. Each of us must cultivate our own relationship with God through prayer, the Sacraments, charity and a faithful observance of the Gospel.
There is a danger that, amidst the busyness and distractions of everyday life, we can become spiritually drowsy. We may intend to pray more, to go to Confession, to forgive someone, or to put our relationship with God in order, but somehow there is always another day. The parable reminds us that the time to prepare is now. We must keep the flame of faith alive, so that whenever the Lord comes, He will find us ready.
As we observe Remembrance Sunday, we are invited to remember with gratitude and solemnity those who have given their lives in the service of others and for the sake of peace. We recall especially those who never returned home, and the families who have carried the sorrow of their loss through generations. Their sacrifice should never be forgotten. There is, too, a profound connection between Remembrance Sunday and this Sunday's Gospel. The poppy reminds us of lives given in sacrifice; the Gospel reminds us that every human life is lived in the light of eternity. We pray for the faithful departed, asking that those who have died may be welcomed into the eternal wedding feast of Heaven. May we never allow the lamp of faith to grow dim, but live each day with our hearts prepared for the coming of Christ. And when at last the Bridegroom comes, may we be among those who hear the words of welcome: Come, you whom my Father has blessed; take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you. Requiem æternam, dona eis Domine..light eternal shine upon them, O Lord; may they rest in peace.
Msgr Kevin Hale