Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." - Matthew 25:13

Ten virgins wait for a bridegroom, all ten carrying lamps, and only five of them thought to bring extra oil. When the bridegroom is delayed past midnight, the five without oil have to go buy more, and by the time they return the door is shut. Not locked in spite. Simply shut, because the moment for entering had already passed, and they weren't standing in it.

Wisdom's first reading names what the wise virgins actually had that the foolish ones lacked: not more devotion in the moment, but foresight kept up over time. Wisdom is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her, but she does not wait around forever for a man who keeps meaning to get serious later. Whoever watches for her at dawn will not be disappointed.

A steward's readiness is not a feeling he can manufacture the night before the account comes due, brother. It's built the same way the wise virgins built theirs, ordinary night after ordinary night, oil bought before it was needed, not scrambled for after the cry went up. Paul's second reading gives the reason none of this has to be grim: we grieve, but not like those who have no hope, because we believe Jesus died and rose, and God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. The waiting is real. So is what it's waiting for.

Name one area of your spiritual life where you've been running on borrowed oil - meaning to restock later rather than now. Buy the oil tonight: do the actual thing, not the plan to do it.

Lord, don't let me be caught buying oil after the door has already shut. Keep me watching, and keep my lamp actually full. Amen.