Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.
Today’s theme – Stay Awake – the Lord is Coming!
(One more week in Ordinary Time and Advent is upon us!)
Why is Wisdom referred to as “She”?
First we must think, if there is a “She”, who is the “He?” The “He” is God (the Father), later Jesus Christ, who came as a man. This implies a male-female bond which is carried through scripture. This bond reflects God’s covenant relationship with His people. It is reflected in marriages today as well, and helps us understand why that marriage is between one male and one female:
- God the Father speaks often of His beloved “Bride” – the people of Israel.
- Jesus Christ (male) and His “Bride” the Church.
- The Groom (male) and His Bride (female).
Many cultures personify Wisdom as a woman.
Wisdom 6: 12-16
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)
The seven books of scripture that are categorized as “Wisdom Literature” include Wisdom of Solomon, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Song of Songs, Job and Proverbs.
The Book of Wisdom was written about 50 years before the coming of Christ. This book tells us quite literally, of the wisdom of King Solomon. It’s as if someone sat down to write “the best of” when it came to Solomon’s wise sayings and perspectives. Wisdom – here personified as a female (“she”) – helps us try to grasp one of the greatest of the gifts of the Holy Spirit – Fear of the Lord. This is not “fear” as in to be afraid, but rather awe.
Resplendent and unfading is wisdom,
and she is readily perceived by those who love her,
and found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire;
Whoever watches for her 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;
because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her,
and graciously appears to them in the ways,
and meets them with all solicitude.
Responsorial Psalm 63: My Soul is Thirsting for You, O Lord My God.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)
Themes here – as in the first reading – focus on our never-ending thirst for God, for His infinite wisdom, for our desire to know and love Him fully.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).
Today we hear St. Paul talk about the need to stay awake and help those who have fallen asleep:
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus,
bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive,
who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,
will come down from heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words.
We also hear one of the only hints in scripture that exists concerning the Resurrection and His Second Coming – the promise that we have the chance to live in Heaven with God forever if we follow His commands.
Matthew 25: 1-13
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)
Today’s themes are about staying awake and not waiting until it is too late to ask God for entrance into the kingdom. We must have enough oil in our lamps for the entire journey of life. Where do we get this oil? From the sacraments, from our Church, from constant growth in our faith.
Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to:
- 10 virgins who took their lamps, 5 of them wise, 5 of them foolish.
- The foolish brought no oil, the wise did.
- When the bridegroom (Christ) called in the middle of the night, the foolish virgins asked to borrow oil from the wise.
- The wise refused to share, knowing it could lead to their own demise – not meeting the bridegroom.
I struggle with this reading, I confess. Aren’t we taught – from the time we are but toddlers – to share? Aren’t we supposed to give, be charitable, and serve others? Yes of course we are.
However.
Each virgin was given the opportunity to obtain oil. The foolish carelessly neglected to do so. For the wise virgins to share their oil, that means they might not meet the bridegroom (enter Heaven). Today the lesson is less about sharing and being charitable than it is about being prepared for Christ’s coming.
What are we doing to prepare? Do we have oil in our lamps? Are we frequent recipients of the sacraments? Do we love God above all else and love our neighbor as ourselves, as the gospel a few weeks ago commanded?
If the Lord comes tonight for us, are we ready with oil to great Him? Or would we be running hastily to clean up our houses – our souls – to be ready for Him? Are we saying to Him, “Yes Lord, I am ready!” Or “Wait Lord, just a minute! I just have a few more things to do before I go!”
Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight your path. (And stay tuned, that reading is coming up in Advent when we read Isaiah, who prophesied about that very thing!)
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those 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 replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and 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.”
Banquet of the Word 