Nov. 8, 2020: 32nd Sunday A
Nov, 8, 2020: 32nd Sunday A
Click to hear audio homily
During this time of COVID, it has not been easy for us to be consistent in our faith, hope, and charity. The school children have shared with me that they’ve been feeling sad and disappointed that they can’t be with their friends as they used to. A school child asked me recently, “Father, can you pray for my dad? He’s been feeling sad, and I don’t want to be a burden to him.” Though we grownups would like to try with all our might to stay alert and let not our children and grandchildren be affected by this strange time, we too are affected. Today’s parable uses the image of virgins falling asleep and some of them being unprepared for the arrival of the Bridegroom. At times we too are distracted or unprepared like the foolish virgins because we’re mentally and emotionally tired, disappointed, or discouraged.
The problem with the Foolish Virgins is that they did not take care of the lamp they were given by getting oil for their lamps. What good is a lamp without oil, and how can it serve its purpose to shine the light for others? The image of a lamp without oil has an implication for our lives. Our Lord said that we are the light of the world, and that the lamp cannot be hidden under a bushel. It's a reminder for us that our mission in life to love and serve the Lord cannot be neglected. In the parable, the foolish virgins could not purchase the oil from the market because they were closed. The oil represents our charity and good works which radiate the light of Christ to others. Our charity and good works cannot be purchased with money; our acts of kindness, patience, and peace must be exercised every day in our lives.
On the night of the election a few days ago, while Americans on the both sides of the political spectrum were anxiously waiting for the election results, a curious movie was playing on the Hallmark Channel called, “Silent Night.” The movie was based on a true story of what happened on Christmas Eve of 1944. While it was supposed to be a season of goodwill, there seemed to be no end to the war in Germany. In a small isolated cottage deep in the forest of Germany, a twelve year old boy named Fritz and his mother Elisabeth were seeking refuge there after their home and bakery were both bombed by Allied forces. On the freezing cold winter night of Christmas Eve, a few American soldiers came upon the cottage seeking refuge, especially for their wounded comrade they were carrying. Elisabeth allowed them to stay only on one condition, that they leave their weapons outside. A little while later, a group of German soldiers arrived at the cottage also seeking refuge from the wintry night. Elisabeth knew the punishment for harboring the enemy, but acted quickly and told the German soldiers that they must leave their weapons outside for this was Christmas Eve and no one should use guns on this sacred night of peace. There were tense moments that evening when fear and desire for revenge gripped both American and German soldiers. Elisabeth did her best to redirect their energies toward the true purpose of that special night, to give thanks to God the Father for sending His Son as a tiny baby to be our Savior to our very fallen world. Both German soldiers and American soldiers shared a hot meal together on that special night singing “Silent Night” in both German and English, and the German soldiers even helped take care of the wounded American. The next morning, they parted company, having shared one night of peace on earth. The Germans even gave their compass to the American soldiers so that they could find their way to their front lines.
How appropriate, I thought, that this movie was playing on the night of the contentious election in our country. Not only is our country divided, there is political division and discord within our own families. Regretfully, even our Church is divided by church politics. Not one day goes by that someone on one side of the spectrum of religious politics says that we should do something to change the point of view of the other side. I wonder what will happen when our families gather for Thanksgiving meals and Christmas gatherings in a few weeks. Will we be wise enough to leave outside of the homes our desire to argue, to win, and to be right?
There is no doubt that before the Pandemic, we were already lured or entrapped by worldly ways. The measures put in place to keep us safe from the virus have also resulted in us turning more inward and forgetting about the needs of others. In the midst of this deadly Pandemic, we are given an opportunity to reconnect with our families, to regain a semblance of community lost by social distancing and the fear of the virus. Christ is calling each of us to allow him to be the Prince of Peace for our families, communities, and our nation. To be a wise disciple of Jesus is not to tire of doing small things with great love. We have to fill our lamps, that is, our hearts and minds with charity, patience, and empathy for our family and friends. Our Lord is calling each of us to be his instrument of peace.
