Matthew 25:1-13
Dear Friends, As we draw near to the end of this Church year, in three weeks, the Church has a message for us about time. It may be better stated that the Church invites us to ponder the mystery of time.In today ‘s Gospel about the ten virgins both wise and foolish, and next week’s about the men gifted with a sum of money to challenge their responsibility, we are asked to consider the consequences of time coming to an end. Then, after the final Sunday of Christ the King, we begin a new year. In the first three Sundays of Advent we are asked to consider time beginning. Both of these approaches to time offer us a challenge to investigate our life in light of the Gospel.
The story of the virgins and next week’s Gospel about the talents calls us to responsibility for our life. The message is simple and clear. Stay awake and be responsible. What we do with our time is consequential. We will be called to answer for it. There is definitely a limit to this time. “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!’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Mt 25:1-13)
Time has limits for us. We need to be prepared by being responsible. All of this year’s of selections from the Gospel of Matthew have laid out a clear path and plan of how we can be responsible in the footsteps of Jesus.
Then, after the feast of Christ the King, we begin the journey again with the Gospel of Mark. The first three Sundays of Advent have another approach to the mystery of time. They lay out a plan of time beginning with the coming of Jesus. The message is Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Here we are taught that we are invited into a new reality, a new time. Jesus lets us know time is pregnant with new possibilities. Time is a gift filled with hope and an invitation into new life. Time holds the gift for which our heart has been yearning. Time is not a threat but a gift. It is not slipping away but coming wrapped in the love of a gracious and saving God.
In this end time of closing this year and the beginning of another we are confronted with the paradox. Time is going away and coming anew! Of course, this is an arrangement to help us understand that each day of our lives holds this mystery of time coming and going. Each day is a gift filled with the opportunity of new life and new love. At the same time, each day is one day closer to our death.
In the funeral Mass of the Resurrection we have further insight into this paradox of time. The Preface of the Mass proclaims, “In Him, who rose from the dead, our hope of the resurrection dawned. The sadness gives way to the bright promise of immortality. Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended.”
In this paradox of time ending and beginning, we are called to face up to death as a dominant aspect of our reality. Yet, in Jesus, we share the victory over death.
This message of the mystery of time calls us to live today to its fullness, to live today filled with joy and hope. We are called to be attentive and responsible, to be loving and confident. When we walk with Jesus, we are ready for the reality of today with Covid 19 and whatever tomorrow brings.
It is wise not morose and gloomy to realize that today brings us one day closer to our death. This simply means that today is all the more beautiful and gifted. So we can truly say. “This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it.” ( Ps. 118:24)
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