THIRTY SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

As a Parish, we extend our gratitude and prayers to our veterans and wish you a Blessed Veteran's Day this week.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, an armistice signaled the end of World War I, the "War to End All Wars," a phrase coined by President Woodrow Wilson. In 1926, Congress renamed Armistice Day to Veteran's Day to honor all who served our nation in wars or conflicts.

Congress stated at that time that "Veterans Day should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through goodwill and mutual understanding between nations."

Unfortunately, the promotion of perpetual peace through goodwill and mutual understanding has often been eclipsed by constant wars and conflicts throughout the world, along with natural disasters such as floods, fires, hurricanes, and various mass and individual tragedies. One thing is clear: we need to be prepared. Just like the motto of the Boy Scouts: "Be Prepared."

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins, which we heard in today's Gospel, is only in the Book of Matthew. What exactly is Jesus teaching us in this story?

At first glance, the story may seem puzzling. Why didn't the five wise virgins simply give some of their oil to the five foolish virgins who did not have enough?

It may sound very un-Christian to say, "Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves." And because the foolish ones did go to buy oil, they missed the bridegroom and could not enter the wedding feast.

But Jesus is not teaching about sharing. He is teaching about being prepared. Being prepared can mean the difference between safety and sorrow.

We need to be prepared to meet Jesus when He comes to take us to our eternal resting place. We do not know exactly when our time will come.

To understand why the five foolish virgins ran out of oil, it helps to know the wedding customs in the time of Jesus. The "virgins" were what we would call bridesmaids.

The groom would walk to the home of the bride, where the bridesmaids would be waiting to escort him into the bride's house. At his discretion, the groom could arrive at any time of day or night, and it was the bridesmaids' responsibility to wait. Upon the groom's arrival, there would be a solemn procession from the bride's home to the groom's home, where the wedding ceremony and festivities would occur, often lasting eight days.

The wise bridesmaids brought enough oil because they knew the groom could arrive at any time. Jesus praises these sensible people for their wise preparations and responsible behavior.

Carrying extra oil may have been a burden, but the responsible ones did it.

• It is a burden to stay home and do your homework, but responsible students do it rather than goof off.
• It is a burden to get to work on time, but responsible employees do it.
• It is a burden to bring your children to church for Mass or for religious education, but responsible parents do it.
• It is a burden to promote peace and forgiveness in a home or church community, but it is our responsibility.
• It is a burden to carry our individual crosses, but it is the responsible Christian who does it.

Jesus makes it very clear: these are the people who enter the wedding feast, or rather, the Kingdom of Heaven.

• It is the wise person who knows that this earthly life is not our final destination.
• It is the wise person who understands life is short. Children grow up too quickly. One moment you are holding your first baby, and the next, your first grandchild. One moment you begin your career, and before you know it, you are retired.
• It is the wise person who is prepared because he or she does not know the exact day or hour.

The wise person knows that God has the last word. Be prepared. You do not want to hear Jesus say the words we heard in today's gospel, "Amen, I say to you, I do not know you."

Instead, "... stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

To all our Veterans, we pray for you and wish you a most Blessed Veteran's Day this week.