32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

If gospel readings had punch lines, the punch line for today’s gospel from Matthew 25:1–13 is, “Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (vs. 13). Using a wedding as the frame for this Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus warns his disciples and us about the importance of being prepared. In this case we are preparing for the coming of Jesus. For any of you who have participated in pulling together a wedding, you know that meticulous planning is involved. Many people find weddings so daunting that they hire professional wedding planners to make sure everything gets done. Every facet of the day is coordinated with military precision. If we prepared ourselves for entry into the kingdom of heaven with the same diligence as a bride preparing for her wedding, I doubt any of us would have a problem getting in.

In today’s first reading, Wisdom 6:12–16, the writer reminds us that “Whoever watches for her (wisdom) at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate.

For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and whoever for her sake keeps vigil

shall quickly be free from care…”. This reading compliments The Parable of the Ten Virgins. Both readings focus on watching, waiting, planning and preparedness. Wisdom seeks out those who “are worthy of her.” The unfortunate people who reject the counsel of Wisdom are guaranteed much suffering both in this life and in the next.

Just as weddings today require a lot of planning and preparation, our entry into the kingdom of heaven requires planning and preparation as well. We must be prepared to meet Jesus whenever he arrives. If we procrastinate, we run the risk of confronting a locked door or being left in the dark. Each of us receives an invitation with an RSVP requesting a timely response. When and how we respond is up to each one of us.

Lord God, our Father,

you want us to encounter your Son

here on earth as our companion in life. 

 Help us pay attention to the word that warns us

to increase the 'oil for our lamps,'

that they may not flicker and go out

while we await the Bridegroom's return.

May we be always ready to greet Christ when he comes

and enter with him into the wedding feast

for he is our Lord for ever and ever.

AMEN.

Everybody

This is a story about four people named: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.

Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it!

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

All Souls Day

 

All Souls Day

Pope Benedict XVI, wrote: “I would go so far as to say that if there was no purgatory, then we would have to invent it, for who would dare to say of him/herself that he or she was able to stand directly before God”. He goes on to say that purgatory means God can put the pieces back together again that we presumably have broken off by our sins.

This is the feast we celebrate today, a remembrance of friends and loved ones who have passed away. This day follows All Saints Day in order to shift the focus from those in heaven to those in purgatory. This feast reminds us of our obligation to live holy lives; to live the way God has told us to live in the Scriptures.

Let us pause for a time today and remember all of those who in the past have had a significant difference in our lives, who were good people, and ask God to receive them into his Kingdom.

May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Saying Thank You to the Communion of Saints

Saying Thank You to the Communion of Saints

Remembering to say thank you to our guides and helpers is important for the completion of the assistance they have given.

We may have become accustomed to asking for help from the unseen world - whether from saints, angels, soul friends, guides, or ancestral spirits - but sometimes we may forget to close our connection afterwards with a thank you. When we connect to these energies for assistance, it is much like a phone connection. Forgetting to close the conversation with a proper “goodbye” is like not hanging up. While that line is still connected, others can have trouble getting through, while in the meantime, batteries are being drained. Saying “thank you” is a way of releasing our concerns into trusted hands and getting out of the way so that the universe‚s divine order can work on our behalf.

As spiritual beings, we may talk about “staying connected,” but our connection needs to be with our source. We can plug in and recharge, but we run on batteries in between, and every connection we make utilizes some of our personal power. Even being surrounded by people that energize us has its limits, and at some point we will feel ready to go off on our own to do what is ours to do. Instead of trying to be constantly connected, we can turn to these beings for help in a way that is more like placing an order. We contact them, ask for what we need, and then say thank you and goodbye.

Beings of the light (Jesus) don’t require our gratitude; it is an energetic acknowledgement of trust and release that benefits us. When we bring ourselves to a sense of being grateful, we affirm that what we have asked is already done. Then we can move forward with confidence to do the things we are meant to do, while knowing that all will be well.

Who are You?

A woman was in a coma and dying. She suddenly had a feeling that she was taken up to heaven and stood before the Judgment Seat.

“Who are you?" a Voice said to her.

“I'm the wife of the mayor," she replied.

“I did not ask whose wife you are but who you are."

“I'm the mother of four children."

“I did not ask whose mother you are, but who you are."

“I'm a school teacher."

“I did not ask what your profession is but who you are.”

And so it went. No matter what she replied, she did not seem to give a satisfactory answer to the question, “Who are you?”

“I'm a Christian.”

“I did not ask what your religion is but who you are.”

“I'm the one who went to church everyday and always helped the poor and needy.”

“I did not ask what you did but who you are.”

She evidently failed the examination, for she was sent back to earth. When she recovered form her illness, she was determined to find out who she was. And that made all the difference.

Your duty is to be. Not to be somebody, not to be nobody - for therein lies greed and ambition - not to be this or that - and thus conditioned - just to be.

From Anthony de Mello, SJ

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Serenity

Lord, make me an instrument of your Serenity

Where there is addiction, let me bring Recovery

Where there is shame, let me bring Healing

Where there is hatred, let me bring Love

Where there is hurt, let me bring Forgiveness

Where there is prejudice, let me bring acceptance

Where there is denial, let me bring Honesty

Where there is fear, let me bring Courage

Where there is doubt, let me bring Faith

Where there is despair, let me bring Hope

Where there is darkness, let me bring Light

Where there is sadness, let me bring Joy

Lord, grant that I may seek

Not so much to be comforted, but to Comfort others

Not so much to be understood, as to Understand others

Not so much to be loved, as to Love others

For it is in Giving that we receive

For it is by Forgiving, that we are Released from resentments

For it is by Living in God’s love, that we are granted a Daily Reprieve

And it is by Dying to our old life, that we Awaken to a New Life of Spirituality. 

Amen