This weekend, the Church begins to prepare us for the end of this Liturgical Season. The new Liturgical Season begins with the celebration of Advent, which starts Sunday, November 29th. We close this Liturgical Season with three familiar and important parables for our lives as Catholics as put forward this Sunday and the following two Sundays. Today we hear of the wise and foolish virgins. The wise virgins brought enough oil in their lamps to last while waiting for the arrival of the Bridegroom. Unfortunately, the foolish virgins did not do likewise and were excluded from the celebration. These virgins remind us that we are called to be in a constant state of readiness, for we do not know the day or the hour of His return. Next Sunday, we will learn that this state of readiness is accomplished when we faithfully use the gifts and talents given to us by God. We have a choice to use these gifts to give glory and honor to God or to ourselves. The final parable, in two weeks, will show what happens when we use these gifts for God and others or for ourselves. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, we are given the opportunity to proclaim to others that we are who we say we are ~ true followers of Christ. In other words when it comes to helping our brothers and sisters in need, our words and actions demonstrate our willingness. Use these next weeks to prepare your hearts for the Advent Season. Be mindful that God wishes to use you as His instrument.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Wayne