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As we approach the end of the liturgical year (a new year begins in three weeks on the 1st Sunday of Advent) the Scripture readings at Mass tend to focus on the end times and the Second Coming of Christ. In today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 25:1-13), Jesus cautions his listeners to “ stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour”. He warns them not to be like the foolish bridesmaids who were unprepared for their master’s return. They assumed they could always get more oil for their torches whenever they needed it, and that the door of the master’s house would be opened for them even if they arrived late. The foolish bridesmaids were shocked to discover that because of their lack of preparation they were excluded from the celebration. While it is true that because of the late arrival of the master and his bride, all of the bridesmaids – both the wise and the foolish - had become drowsy and fallen asleep, the wise ones were prepared for the delayed arrival while the foolish ones were not.
“ We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep.” These words from our Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) direct our attention to a subject most people would prefer to avoid talking about, and that is death. The Church puts particular emphasis on death during the month of November. It begins with All Saint’s Day, which is immediately followed by All Soul’s Day, when we pray in a special way for all the faithful departed. In the earliest days of the Church, there was the expectation that Jesus’ Second Coming would happen very soon. When that event did not happen quickly and members of the Christian community began to die, there was concern that those who had died would not be included in the Second Coming. Saint Paul tells the Thessalonians that that when the Lord Jesus returns in glory, those who have already died will rise first. Then those who are alive would also be raised up.
How, then, can we best prepare to meet the Lord? Our First Reading (Wisdom 6:12-16) may have the key. Wisdom, we are told, can be “ found by those who seek her.” And the wisdom we seek – to be prepared to meet the Lord – is found in what Jesus teaches his disciples. His message is about how we are to live in the kingdom of God here on earth, so as to live forever with God after our death. His lessons are about forgiving others generously, being grateful for the generosity of others, following through on our word, and not expected reward for doing the right thing. Most important, Jesus teaches that loving God with all our mind, body, and soul, and humbly loving our neighbor as ourselves, are the greatest commandments.
The lessons that Jesus taught his listeners as he prepared for his own death provide us the wisdom we need for being prepared for our own deaths. Let us “stay awake” in seeking to live in the wisdom he shares. Let us grow in wisdom by finding ways to grow in our love for God and for our neighbors. As we gain this wisdom, we will also grow in gratitude for God’s kindness, and in certainty of the hope we have for being joined with the Lord and those who have gone before us.
