Homily for November 8

Dear Parish Family:

As the liturgical year winds down, the gospels are preparing us for the great encounter with God which all our liturgies anticipate. Heaven is often described by biblical authors as a wedding banquet. Today’s gospel from Matthew 25 is the story of the virgins who were awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom. Some were foolish and unprepared; others had planned and brought plenty oil to sustain their torches for the long wait. At first glance, it seems to me that the wise virgins were a bit selfish in not sharing some of their oil with the foolish ones. The oil, however, represents God’s grace freely given by God to those who accept it. If I live a life that consistently rejects participation in the life of God, how can I expect the grace of “final perseverance?”

I think we can all agree that this has been a very difficult year in the history of humanity. Recently, one of the priests commented that he could not remember another similar year, except, perhaps the year 1968. I recall that year vividly. Riots erupted throughout the country (and right here) in the wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our city was “on lockdown.” A few months later, a promising presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy, was killed. In the middle of the summer, Pope Paul VI issued an encyclical called “Humane Vitae” on birth control. While many have called it “prophetic,” its immediate effect here was confusion and anger. The liturgy of the Church was rapidly changing. If there had been a sense of security and peace in the Church, for some that had been shattered.

What has sustained us in the midst of all these crises? I suggest two things: consistent prayer and a sense of history which gives perspective. Personal and communal prayer are essential for any follower of Jesus. These daily and weekly habits help to prepare us for the long grind up the mountain through clouds for the brief moment of illumination. Awareness of how God has worked in the lives of our ancestors is also helpful in providing us with hope.

During this month of November, we pray in a special way for our ancestors that the process of purification, begun in this life, will be perfected for them so that they can behold the face of the bridegroom. Even as we pray for them, we need to prepare our children and families for the moment of our departure. Recently an elderly person called us to inquire about funeral and burial planning for herself. This is not morbid but very wise. We can proclaim by our choices our faith in the resurrection. Sadly, we often find that children who are not aware of the wishes of their elders want to dispose of them quickly with little reference to the faith that sustained them. So, if you have not written down your wishes, now is a good time to make them known!

“Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
(Matthew 25:13)

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Bill Foley