Nov 8 Sun
Do I always consider what course of action I should pursue?
Christ's parable of the wise and foolish virgins should remind us that each one of us—no matter how young or old—can live wisely or foolishly.
The good news of the Book of Wisdom is that we can be wise as soon as we want to be. God’s Wisdom is ready and waiting to meet us as soon as we call to her.
We become “worthy of Wisdom” when we want her. This means wanting to live by what she reveals to us –that is, God’s Will.
“Taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence.” This means that our decision-making is most sound (prudence) when we consider what is the best course of action in God’s eyes (wisdom).
Not many of us actively set out to do evil, but many of us sleepwalk through life. This is why we should be awake at dawn.
In the parable of the ten virgins, Christ is the bridegroom. We are the virgins awaiting his return to begin the wedding feast of heaven.
Christ admonishes us to be prepared and awake.
Christ will “return” and judge each and every one of us at the moment of our death in what the Church calls our particular judgment. We do not know when that moment will be. This raises two vital considerations.
First, do I have the oil of being in the state of grace, or am I in the empty state of mortal sin?
Just as the foolish virgins had time to get more oil for their lamps up until the arrival of the bridegroom, but not after, so we have time to repent and to go to Confession up until the moment of our death, but not after.
Second, assuming I am in a state of grace, is my life bearing the fruit that Christ wants to see? Is my way of life foolish?
I still have time to amend my life and live it according to God’s will.
Christ has not yet made everything subject to Him, but He will. This will happen when He returns to earth with power and great glory.
That is why Christians pray, above all in the Eucharist, to hasten Christ’s return, by saying to him: Marana tha! ‘Our Lord, come!
The ten virgins did not plan; they were not prudent. As a human virtue, prudence is sound decision-making. It is the most important and desirable cardinal virtue which helps us see and sets us in motion toward pursuing the good. Whenever we face a decision or conceive of a course of action, prudence takes counsel, makes a decision, and then acts.
As a supernatural virtue, prudence is assisted by God’s grace, directed at pleasing God, and takes counsel with God’s wisdom.
As a human being, it is exciting to look at your life, choose a better course of action, and then pursue it.
As a child of God, it is sanctifying to look at your life from God’s perspective, choose the action that He wants, and then set out to accomplish it with Christ at your side, and the Holy Spirit guiding you.
And then, it's not about doing just what you like, but about loving what you must do.