Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
The Book of Wisdom supplies the first reading for Mass this weekend. The book’s title itself teaches a lesson.
As centuries passed, foreign influences virtually overwhelmed the Holy Land. Times perennially were hard. Understandably, many Jews left their ancestral homeland in search of better lives. They often emigrated to places where paganism prevailed.
In these new places, devoted Jews found themselves required to explain and defend their ancient belief in the One God of Israel, possibly to their own children.
This book, among others, arose from this process. The title makes the point that accepting the God of Israel is the wise choice, totally logical and not a leap into fantasy.
An interesting literary technique in this book is that wisdom is personified. Wisdom is described as if this human attribute were a person, moving through the world, being available to humans.
St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Thessalonians provides the second reading. This epistle was sent long ago to the Christian faithful in Thessalonica, now the city of Saloniki in modern Greece. The presence of Christians in Thessalonica at that time shows that the Church had already moved beyond its geographic origins and was becoming a factor in Europe and not just in Asia.
Paul makes several important theological points in this reading. First, he expressed the Christian thought that life endures after earthly death.
St. Paul refined this idea by insisting that eternal life was intimately connected with the reality of an individual person’s acceptance or rejection of God in his or her earthly existence.
Second, Paul drew the link between Christ and each Christian. He favored no theme more. It was fundamental. Christ lives forever. He overcame death. He rose. Christians who earnestly accept the Lord must die to share in this victory over death. In coming to trust in Christ and having a profound relationship with him through his grace, each believer is offered a destiny of living with him forever in heaven.
St. Matthew’s Gospel is the source of the third reading. It is the familiar parable of the bridegroom and the foolish and wise virgins. Some commentators have raised an interesting interpretation, suggesting that all the virgins, both the wise and the foolish, were symbols of disciples. (While no woman was an Apostle according to any learned reading of the Gospels or tradition, women nonetheless were among the Lord’s disciples.)
Living lives of obedience, solely and perpetually committed to Jesus, required more than good intentions. Thus, Jesus extolled virginity among followers. It is why the Church respects celibacy.
Early Christians impatiently awaited the coming of Jesus, believing that all wrongs would be righted when he came in glory. Threatened in so many ways, they obviously yearned for the second coming.
The parable teaches that Christ will indeed come again eventually, and hopefully soon. He will return in triumph, majesty and justice. Jesus will reign over all.
Reflection
It is as true today as it was in the first years of Christianity. The Christian’s bond with Jesus must be absolute, so it constantly must be renewed and strengthened by his grace. Disciples must, though, cooperate with this grace and be as determined and aware as the wise virgins.
As for the foolish and sluggish, it is never too late in this life for any sinner to repent. Millions of people have turned from sin to virtue in the last moments of earthly life. The Church always is prepared to aid in such conversions. It is the purpose of the sacrament of reconciliation. All is forgiven. Start anew.
The Church, through Matthew, tells us this weekend to be prepared for whatever awaits us. We cannot predict the future. So, live each day as a disciple. Be with Christ now, not just at the last minute.
Being with God alone makes life worth living. It brings to life true security and peace. Death is inevitable for everyone, but eternal life awaits the just. Jesus awaits the just in glory. †