Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary time Year A - November 8, 2020

32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A Wisdom 6:12-16 Psalm 62:2-8 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13 BE WISE, SO AS TO BE READY FOR THE LORD As the Liturgical calendar of the catholic church gradually comes to an end, the readings are instilling in us the consciousness of the end of time and our preparedness towards it. In the first reading of today, we are presented with the importance of having the wisdom of God so as to be able to act accordingly. Only those who are wise will be able to understand how things work in the world and prepare themselves to act accordingly. Only wisdom can teach us how to do the right thing at the right time, only the wisdom of God will help us to distinguish between what is good and evil. Only wisdom can encourage us to pay more attention to our spiritual lives rather than the material things in the world. In the second reading, we hear St Paul fight against the sadduces who do not believe in the resurrection and had filled Thessalonica with the teaching. St Paul therefore brings to our consciousness again that the dead will rise again from the dead. The wisdom of God can lead us to the faith of the resurrection and help us to live better lives. For those who are wise, life is changed not ended, only fools act as if life has no meaning or as if life ends at death. In the gospel reading, Jesus tells us in a parable about the wise and foolish virgins. Sometimes we pay attention to things that are not important and leave the important things unattended to. The foolish virgins did not think ahead, knowing that no one knows the exact time the groom would arrive at the banquet hall. The 5 foolish virgins were in their duty posts quite alright, but their lambs were empty of oil and thus were as good as not there. The wise virgins thought ahead and made extra efforts and plans. They were always at their best and in their duty post. Many of us Christians have today misplaced our priorities We therefore need the wisdom of God to be able to make the right decisions for our lives. Let us have our lambs lit and our oil burning as we wait for the Lord. Though we are not sure when he will come, what is certain is that he will come. God help us. Amen Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP