November 12 - Sunday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Published: Nov. 11, 2023, 5 p.m.

(Wis.6:12-16;\xa0\xa0 Ps.63:2-8;\xa0\xa0 1Thes.4:13-18;\xa0\xa0 Mt.25:1-13)\xa0 \u201cStay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.\u201d\xa0 O Lord, \u201cthrough the night-watches I will meditate on you: you are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.\u201d\xa0 \u201cAs with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you\u201d; for though \u201cmy soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water\u201d for you, O Living God, I have \u201cgazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory,\u201d and you have met me with your \u201ckindness.\u201d\xa0 Your Wisdom \u201cgraciously appears to [me] in the ways, and meets [me] with all solicitude.\u201d \u201cResplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her.\xa0 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.\xa0 For taking thought of Wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and whoever for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care.\u201d I could not say it any better, or any differently, than the sacred author.\xa0 Do not these words perfectly illustrate the Lord\u2019s message in our gospel today \u2013 Stay awake!\xa0 Keep your lamps burning!\xa0 Seek Wisdom!\xa0 Be ready, and she will come to you; and you will be gathered into the marriage feast.\xa0 Foolishly sit in darkness, unconcerned for your fate, and these ominous words shall resound in your barren soul: \u201cThen the door was locked.\u201d\xa0 And then there shall be no entering. I must again remark on the astounding lack of wisdom in the commentary of the missal I read.\xa0 It states, \u201cPaul is under the misconception that our Lord will return during his lifetime,\u201d ignorantly assuming that when he says, \u201cWe who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,\u201d he is referring to himself and his companions.\xa0 Oh my!\xa0 Where do they derive the oil for their lamps?\xa0 He is no more referring directly to himself in this instance than he is when he says, \u201cIf we believe that Jesus died and rose\u201d \u2013 it is of the whole Church, of whatever time or place, he is speaking!\xa0 How can our \u201cscholars\u201d not see this; and how can they be so ready to utter blasphemy against Holy Scripture and the Lord\u2019s Apostle, suggesting that he purports some greater knowledge of the Lord\u2019s return than the Lord Himself?\xa0 Do they think he is as ignorant, or proud, as they? Brothers and sisters, we indeed have great hope of resurrection.\xa0 When \u201cthe Lord Himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven,\u201d we will be caught up with Him \u201cin the air,\u201d in His heavenly presence.\xa0 But we must have His light within ourselves and keep watch for His Hour, waiting through the night for the dawn of His Day. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Watching the Sun" from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, nothing else matters but our union with you \u2013 let us be with you forever.\xa0 \xa0 \xa0 \xa0YHWH, help us to keep vigil for you and for your Son\u2019s return. Let our hearts be set on your coming glory, that we may join in it ourselves. May our lamps shine brightly as we await the new Day; dispel all darkness from our midst. Give us the wisdom we need to remember your promise of new life in the kingdom \u2013 O let us be wed to Jesus, we pray! \xa0 \xa0 \xa0Through the night we meditate on you and on your Word; it is for you our souls thirst. What more could we desire than to be with you in Heaven? What more should we long for than your saving grace? And to those who seek you, you come, O LORD. To rescue us from the darkness you do not delay. For even as we remain in vigil, your wisdom hastens to shine the light of your face. \xa0 \xa0 \xa0May we be counted among those ready for your coming kingdom; with your Son may we enter the wedding feast. Awake let us be to share in your glory. O LORD, that we shall rise from the dead let us believe.