Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 25 is reminding me to check my oil. Is my oil level right with God? The passage pits 5 wise virgins together with 5 foolish virgins. Wise versus foolish. Wow, I can recall many of the times in my life when my oil was really low and in grave danger of running out. And today as I check my oil, the levels are pretty good.
Now the Gospel was surely not talking about the oil in our cars and the dipstick we use to check levels but Jesus uses the parable of bringing lamps to be prepared and ready when the Bridegroom arrives. We never know when the Lord will come and we must be prepared. We need all that extra oil to keep our lamps burning because the Bridegroom might be delayed. The foolish virgins did not bring extra oil, hence they were foolish. They wanted some of the wise virgin’s oil but were told that they needed to go buy some for themselves.
And what happened to them can happen to us. When they were off buying oil, guess who came? Yes, the Bridegroom. And into the wedding feast he went with the wise virgins and locked the door. When the foolish virgins arrived they said…
“‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
I cannot imagine hearing those words from Jesus. “I DO NOT KNOW YOU!” Lord, I pray much and today I spent some precious time in the Chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. Oh how I love you Lord. But oh how I have hurt Him and offended Him in my foolishness. What if my Lord would have called me home in my foolishness and so unprepared to meet Him?
But in the power of His love and mercy with the graces He has poured out for me, there is also Wisdom. I like Wisdom! It comes with great responsibility. I am in a very peaceful state in Christ. I cannot settle. I want to love God as He loves me. I want to love my neighbor as much as I love myself. I have so much more room to grow. Today is the memorial of Saint Augustine. There is much I can relate to him, the sin part, not the brilliant man of God he became to be. He liked sin. He prayed something like Lord, make me pure but not yet! Yes, I can relate.
Lesson for the last three days of Gospel readings is to be prepared. Heavenly Father, I ask that you will prepare me to meet Your Son Jesus when He comes again, both at my particular judgment and at the final judgment. Through the help of Your grace, give us the oil needed to glorify you in our lives and to be prepared for your coming. I ask this dear Jesus in your holy name. Amen.
Seeking To Reflect Jesus 