Weekly Missionary Reflection
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 12 November 2023
Wis. 6:13-17; Ps. 63:2,3-4,5-6,7-8; 1Thess. 4:13-18 (long) or 1Thess. 4:13-14 (short); Matt. 25:1-13
Humans are often complacent with delay. Tardiness makes us unprepared. About the coming of God, delay and tardiness challenge our attitude. Many people try to tell the coming of God. There are many suggestions and thoughts, yet those are just propaganda and misleading information. The teaching of Jesus is meant for us to prepare and manage our lives now. The teaching of final destiny (eschatology) is always aimed at the arrangement of our lives here and now (ethics).
The bridegroom refers to Jesus who will return at His time. In the two previous stories, the coming of Jesus is unexpected (24:43-44) or too soon (24:45-51). Today’s story does not stress the unexpected nor too soon, but on the delay, the delayed coming. The delay should make you and me to be always ready for His coming at any time. The delay means the struggle of our life of faith is prolonged. We are challenged to persevere in the struggle of our daily lives.
The five wise virgins are symbols of the faith who are always ready. They are wise for they look ahead and are ready (v. 10). They are aware of the coming end times and always prepare their heart for it. We don’t judge them selfishly for not sharing their oil. Their rejection of sharing sends an important message: preparation for the coming of God is the responsibility of each individual and not transferrable! Each of us has to be always prepared with the burning lamp. Such quality of disciple has been emphasized by Jesus earlier, “your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matt. 5:16). In the Gospel of Matthew, “the shining light” may refer to good deeds and appropriate moral attitude (cf. Mark 4:21; Luke 11:33).
The five foolish virgins are symbols of unprepared believers. They are unprepared not because they fall asleep (the five wise virgins fall asleep as well!), rather, they are foolish. In the Scripture, “foolish” is not about the way of thinking, but the inability to manage their lives and relationships. As a result, they are not resilient in faith, not firm in hope, not sincere in love. At the delayed coming of Jesus, they “run out of oil”. The quality of their faith only burns at the beginning of their repentance, but then it dims and goes out in their long journey and struggle of life. When the Lord comes, they are not ready. Despite they manage to buy the oil, they are still late. The heavenly door is locked. The cry of “Lord, Lord…” does not make the Lord recognize them. The gate of heaven can not be opened by words and chain of prayers, but by good works and charity. His delayed coming is to invite us to be always ready. The delay is not the chance for multiplying prophecy, instead, it’s a time of doing a mission for sharing His grace and love!
(Hortensius Mandaru – Indonesia Bible Society)
DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER
Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.
Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:
For the Pope
We pray for the Holy Father; as he fulfills his mission, may he continue to accompany the flock entrusted to him, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
For Sexual Violence
We pray that the ecclesiastical institutions can create a safe environment and sense of security and also enforce the protocol that can prevent sexual violence against the weak and vulnerable.
Amen.
Situs Resmi Karya Misi Kepausan Indonesia (KMKI) 