Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Matthew 25:1-13
Reflection:
In our gospel today, the wise virgins were prepared to meet the bridegroom. The foolish virgins were not. So they missed him.
When we first hear this gospel we think of being prepared to meet the Lord at the time of our death, or we think of being prepared for the Second Coming if it occurs during our lifetime. But if our attention is only focused on our final encounter with the Lord we are likely to miss him in our normal daily living.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting – a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.
Being prepared to meet the Lord means keeping our eyes open to see beautiful sights, our ears open to hear beautiful sounds, and our hearts open to welcome in beautiful people. If we have trouble doing this, just watch a little child and learn how it’s done. A child does not see Seven Wonders of the World; it sees seventy times seven wonders.
Endless.
In the book of Wisdom, we read, “For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.” (Wisdom 13:5) Stop. Look. Listen. The Lord is here – right now. Go ahead. Meet him.
Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa, Sierra Madre, California. http://www.alanphillipcp.com/