Dear Friends,

In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents us with the parable of the ten maidens, who “objectively” are united in purpose and commitment to its fulfillment. In other words, they have this role, first because they were “chosen for” and “entrusted with” a “real” task to be done. Thus, the vital point in discerning the “wisdom” or the “foolishness” of their action was whether they relied simply on the oil and the lamp provided them; or, they took seriously their responsibility and engaged it prepared by giving themselves to the task. In our current cultural milieu, the wise virgins are perceived as being selfish or mean, because they didn’t share the oil in their flasks. The challenge of the Gospel this week is directed to “me,” i.e., each one of us as an individual before the Good Lord. All of us who consider ourselves to be followers of Christ; who at Holy Baptism were given the Light of Christ and the oil of the faith of our fathers and mothers down through the ages; who were exhorted “To keep this light burning brightly” and encouraged to put in the effort to internalize this gift by storing up the grace given to us and engaging it responsibly. If we expect that our faith is simply something that is given to us and we can simply depend on others to do the work without giving anything of ourselves to keep the flame of faith ablaze; then, we are foolish and will be kept out of the banquet of life, not as a punishment, but because we never took the invitation seriously, and at the same time, chose to disrespect our Divine Host. In her classic work, The Dialogue (1370), St. Catherine of Siena offers some insight as she shares one of her intimate conversations with God the Father:

“Beloved daughter, everything I give to man comes from the love and care I have for him. I desire to show My mercy to the whole world and My protective love to all those who want it. But in his ignorance, man treats himself very cruelly. My care is constant, but he turns My life-giving gifts into a source of death. Yes, I created him with loving care and formed him in My image and likeness. I pondered, and I was moved by the beauty of My creation. I gave him a memory to recall My goodness, for I wanted to share in My own power. I gave him an intellect to know and understand My will through the wisdom of My Son, for I am the giver of every good gift and I love him with a Father's constant love. Through the Holy Spirit, I gave him a will to love what he would come to know with his intellect. In my loving care I did all this, so that he could know Me and perceive My goodness and rejoice to see Me forever. But as I have recounted elsewhere, heaven had been closed off because of Adam’s disobedience. Immediately after his sin all manner of evil made its advance throughout the world. So that I might commute the death consequent upon this disobedience, I attended to you with loving care - out of provident concern I handed over My only-begotten Son to make satisfaction for your needs. I demanded supreme obedience from Him so that the human race might be freed of the poison which had infected the entire earth because of Adam’s disobedience. With eager love He submitted to a shameful death on the cross, and by that death He gave you life; not merely human but divine.”

May we reflect on the impact of this august mystery of God’s pure love for us and our oft nonchalant response. Be of good cheer, have a prayerful November and a blessed week!

Msgr. Grous