Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr. Ben Riley

When I was about seventeen, my older brother and I went on a road trip to Colorado. My brother Zack and I were driving to the southern part of Colorado, so we took Interstate 40 through Oklahoma City to Amarillo, Texas. At Amarillo, you start heading north on smaller highways. Eventually, you drive through the northeast corner of New Mexico before making it into Colorado.

Now, I’m not sure what kind of amenities are out in that part of the country today, but when we were making this drive 22 years ago, there weren’t many places to stop and get gas. There were even highway signs warning drivers about the distance between gas stations.

Now, you can probably guess where this story is going. Zack and I were young and a little naive, and although we were low on gas, we wanted to get to Colorado. So we risked it and tried to make it to the next station before stopping. Needless to say, we didn’t make it. We were stranded on the side of the highway, pretty embarrassed, with our thumbs in the air, trying to catch a ride to the next gas station.

Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long. A very nice man, who happened to be an Eagle Scout, stopped and offered to siphon a gallon of gas out of his own tank with a small hose he always carried in his car. It was pretty cool. I had never seen someone siphon gas before. We made it to the gas station on fumes and had a great rest of the trip.

And every time I read this parable about the wise and foolish virgins, I think about that road trip I took with my brother.

Jesus tells us about ten virgins who go out to meet a bridegroom. All ten bring lamps, but only five bring extra oil. The bridegroom takes so long to arrive that all ten fall asleep. Then, at midnight, someone cries out, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” The five who brought oil light their way into the wedding feast. The others go to the merchants to buy oil, and by the time they return, the door is shut.

Now, every time I read this parable, I have a burning question. Why don’t they just share the oil? That seems to make perfect sense. The wise virgins say it’s because there may not be enough. But I still don’t get it. They are already at the door. How far do they really have to go? And surely the wedding will have its own lamps with plenty of oil. It doesn’t make sense. That Eagle Scout was kind enough to give my brother and me a gallon of gas. Why couldn’t the wise virgins do something like that?

This bothered me for years, until I realized that Jesus is not talking bout actual oil. He is speaking of the oil that is the grace of God, His own life dwelling within us. Just as oil feeds the flame of a lamp, grace feeds the flame of love in our hearts and makes it possible for the light of Christ to shine through us. And when the Bridegroom comes, that is what makes us ready to enter the wedding feast. He knows us, because he finds his own light already burning in our hearts.

That’s why we can’t share our oil. I can’t give some of my oil to my family or friends. I can pray for them. I can invite them to Mass. I can tell them what the Lord has done for me. But I can’t pour the life of God from my soul into theirs. Only Christ can give that gift. Only He gives the gift of his grace, and we receive it when we choose to stay close to him in prayer, keep his commandments, and come to him in the sacraments of his Church.

Think back to that Eagle Scout. The hose meant he was ready to siphon gas. But it was God’s Grace that inspired him to stop and help someone in need. At the time, all Zack and I could think about was getting some gas. But what we really needed was someone who would see two strangers on the side of the road and make our problem his own. God had given that man a heart willing to do exactly that. I saw something of the light of Christ that day on the side of a highway.

And here is the thing, Zack and I had seen the signs. We knew we were low on gas. But we were so caught up in the fun we were going to have in Colorado, and so sure we knew better. Our pride was getting in the way, so we told ourselves, “We can go a little farther.”

How often do we say that to ourselves about the state of our souls? Maybe there’s a sin we’ve gotten used to excusing. Maybe we know we need to go to confession, and every time it comes to mind, we tell ourselves, “I’ll go later,” I’ll go a little farther down the road.” “There will be another chance soon.”  Those are the signs worth paying attention to.

At the end of this parable, Jesus warns us to, “Stay awake”. Let’s take him seriously. The door really does close at the end of this parable, and Jesus wants you on the inside, at the feast with him.

Pay attention to the signs he’s giving you. When he shows you where you need to turn back, don’t tell yourself, “I can go a little farther.” Don’t let your tank run dry. Stay Awake.

Today, the door is still open. Come to Christ. Let him fill you with his grace, full to overflowing.