Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

The first reading on this Sunday, from the Old Testament Book of Wisdom, was written about 100 years before the birth of Christ. And the Word for today is intended to inspire in the reader a true love for wisdom. Wisdom does not manifest herself to just anyone, though, but to those who desire from the heart to possess her. If they do, they will find wisdom. It manifests and communicates herself to those who are vigilant and anticipates the attitude of readiness Jesus describes in the Gospel this Sunday. All who are in search of guidance and help from God will find it, Jesus teaches us, using the image of five wise bridesmaids and five who are foolish.

Regarding the coming of the Lord, Jesus indicates in the Gospels that it will be sudden, unforeseeable and even unknown. The posture to adopt, therefore, is constant fidelity to God and being vigilant. Be awake for the Lord’s coming, in other words, because the coming of the Lord is the time of the possibility of reward, the hope of full participation in the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. So desirable is this reward that no one should be so negligent as to miss the opportunity. For those who do, there is the prospect of separation, which no one should want.

In the Gospel parable of the bridesmaids this Sunday, the groom is described as being delayed, and only those who were prepared to meet him are granted entrance into the wedding. The foolish were busy elsewhere and completely missed out on the golden opportunity. The parable is not told in order to frighten us, but in order to emphasize the fact we can only live our own life, so let our life be totally informed by the teaching and grace of the Lord who desires that all be saved.