Weekend Mass

Dear Beloved Family of St. Anselm,

The Gospel this Sunday presents several practical principles of preparation. In the end, we will discover that the Lord turns the tables on us.

1. Procure Your Provisions: "The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins—five of whom were foolish and five wise." To be wise is to be deeply rooted in God and in what He offers: His love, wisdom, grace, mercy, truth, vision, and priorities—His very life. We may be intelligent and successful, yet still lose sight of what matters most. The oil represents the love and wisdom of God and His abundant gifts: Scripture, the Sacraments, prayer, the Church, the liturgy, joy, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and holiness. While the wise virgins made room in their lives for these gifts, the foolish virgins were not prepared sufficiently for the bridegroom's arrival. Sometimes we, too, can become distracted by life's demands and neglect the very things that nourish our relationship with God. Going to Mass, praying, and reading Scripture can gradually take a back seat.

2. Prepare Personally: "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." "No, ... Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves." We can encourage one another in faith, but we cannot borrow someone else's personal relationship with God, prayer life, or holiness. Each of us must cultivate our own relationship with the Lord. As a priest, I sometimes receive requests to celebrate funerals. When I ask whether the deceased was a parishioner, I may hear, "No, but his grandmother was," or "His second cousin used to be." We can be grateful for the faith handed down to us by our parents and grandparents, but we must also make that faith our own.

3. Persevere in Your Preparations: "Those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked." The bridegroom did not come until midnight. The delay tested the readiness of all ten virgins. Our walk with God requires perseverance. Faith is not simply about where we have been; it is about where we are today. People sometimes tell me, "I used to be an altar boy," "I used to go to your church," or "My grandfather helped build this Church!" These are wonderful memories. But an important question remains: Where are we today in our relationship with God? Our faith is a journey that calls us to keep growing until the end.

4. Procrastination Is Perilous: "While they went off to buy [the oil], the bridegroom came." The foolish virgins were unprepared. The parable reminds us that we cannot indefinitely postpone our response to God. We do not know the day or the hour when we will meet Him. The door is our heart, and the Lord is knocking. Let us not allow the busyness of life to keep us from answering Him. The ringing of our Church bell will serve to call us out of the noise of the world and into God's worship, to help us to remain alert and open our hearts to the Lord as we busy about.

Amen.