HOMILY FOR THE THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
HOMILY THEME: KEEPING AWAKE FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD
BY: Fr. Cosmas Ukadike
HOMILY:
God’s word today calls us to be prepared and ready for the hour of the Lords second coming. Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel presents us with how to make this preparation and the need for it (Matt 25, 1-13).
The how of this preparation is shown in the readiness of the five wise virgins who did not only get their lamps ready but also went ahead to get extra oils in it (25, 4), for they could not immediately determine how long they needed to wait before the arrival of the bridegroom, so they made every necessary preparations, leaving no stone unturned. The need for us to be prepared at all times in waiting for the Lords coming is also highlighted in today’s Gospel.
We are told that because the five wise virgins were ready when the bridegroom arrived so they had the privilege and blessing of going in with him into the wedding banquet.
The wedding banquet is a regular image of eternal life in the Gospels. It is symbolic as it depicts sharing in the joys of heaven and seeing God face to face.
It is a moment when those who are called and chosen are celebrated before the throne of God. This everlasting encounter or as better called, UNION WITH GOD, is all that we are called to seek and strive after.
We therefore need to imitate the five wise virgins as opposed to the five unwise ones who refused to make adequate preparations before setting out to meet with the bridegroom (25, 3).
Our bridegroom is Jesus Christ the son of God, who is coming again to take us into the banquet of the heavenly feast where he has been preparing for us since the day of his ascension. We are hopeful that by the help of his grace we shall all enter into this heavenly banquet as we decide now to take our preparations seriously, for there’s no more time left.
Have a blessed week.
