Cortez: Active Waiting

THIS Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 25:1-13) narrates the parable of the ten virgins (bridesmaids), who were waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom so they can light his way and accompany him to the wedding feast. Five of the maids were wise and five were foolish. Because the waiting took so long, all the bridesmaids fell asleep. When at last the groom arrived, the maids got up and trimmed their lamps. It was not, however, without any complication. The wise maids were ready to escort the groom but the foolish maids were not. Why? Because their lamps were going out and they did not bring any oil. Sure they asked for help from the wise maids, but these maids brought only enough oil to sustain their need. The best they can do was just to advise them to go to the merchant to buy oil, which they tried doing. Nevertheless, while the foolish bridesmaids were still looking for oil, the procession has begun. The wise maids were able to accompany the groom to the site of the wedding feast, after which the doors were locked. Arriving at the venue, the foolish maids knocked at the door begging, "Lord, open the door for us,” but the groom answered, “I do not know you.” Therefore, the foolish virgins were not able to join the feast.

The groom in the parable is no other than our Lord Jesus Christ. We, Christians, members of God’s church, are the maids waiting for our groom’s arrival. We are waiting for Jesus to come again as he promised, that we may participate in the great feast prepared for us in heaven.

The waiting, however, takes a long, long time. About two thousand years have passed already since that day when Jesus ascended to heaven, but still he has not returned yet. Many preachers and religious leaders from various denominations and cults have, through the centuries, predicted different dates for this return, yet no one of them was proven right. Of course, the Bible teaches us the signs of the Lord’s second coming, but it also tells us, “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36). Because of the long wait through the night, it is possible that just like the ten virgins, we too may become drowsy and fall asleep. That is normal. The wise virgins, however, went to sleep ready to wake up anytime to welcome the groom, while their foolish counterparts dozed unprepared for his coming.

Just as all the bridesmaids had lamps, so do we, members of the Church, have faith in God. And just as the bridesmaids needed oil to keep their lamps lit, so do we need actions to keep our faith alive. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). All the maids, in bringing their lamps, made a good start, but only the wise, in also bringing oil, were able to bring their mission into completion. We have to persevere. As St. Paul tells us, we have to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

God wants everyone to be saved but the reality is that not everybody will be. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

God is merciful. He is giving us a whole lifetime to accept his free gift of salvation and to live a life of obedience to his will. But there is also a deadline set for our response. When Jesus comes again or when we die, whichever comes first, the time to prepare for our eternity has been exhausted. The opportunity to bring our lamps of faith and keep them lighted by our oil of good works has, by then, come to an end. We will all face the judgment of God “who will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness” (Romans 2:6-8). Thus, like the wise bridesmaids, let us then engage ourselves in active waiting.

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