Thirty-second Sunday Gospel Year A

Jesus said: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

· According to Jewish custom a couple would be betrothed to one another for a year, each living separately. After the period the groom would go to the bride’s house to bring her to his house as his wife. This would be the wedding night. The ten attendants were waiting for him to return with his bride.

Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

· Matthew uses the contrast between two different groups throughout his gospel: the house build on rock and the house built on sand; the Pharisee and the Publican in prayer. Here it is the contrast between those who are prepared to go into the celebration and those who are not.

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.' 

· We saw in another parable where someone was not prepared to be part of the wedding feast because of the lack of the traditional wedding garment. That person was ejected.

· Here, because they were not vigilant and prepared, they were caught off guard; Due to their own lack of foresight, they are refused entrance.

· After all God has done for you, how will you feel if he said: “I do not know you?”

· Remember it is more dependent on our state of relationship with God in the present moment than on anything in the past.

Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. “

· If the Kingdom of God is that important to us, how prepared are we to enter when the invitation is given? Since we do not know the day or the hour of God’s final call, are we vigilant or will we be caught off guard?

· What changes do we need to do this week to be ready, vigilant and responsive?