“Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matt. 25:13). Our Gospel reading ends with these words, a stark reminder that we should be ready for the Second Coming, or the hour of our death, whichever comes first, and we will most likely not know when it is coming.
The five wise virgins spent their time on this earth preparing as best they could for the wedding feast of the Lamb, building up their supply of oil through their works of charity. The five foolish virgins counted on the ability to recognize when the Bridegroom would come to take them into the feast, but they were caught off guard, without the oil of charity.
The foolish virgins are much like the Jews described by St. Paul in the first reading. The Jews thought they knew what to look for in a Messiah and would surely know him when they saw him, but they did not expect the Cross. If they would have searched the Scriptures with a heart open to the Holy Spirit, they would have been prepared, but their hearts were not open to the possibility of God acting in a way that they did not expect. Because of this, the Cross came and went, and they viewed it as a scandal.
The foolish virgins and the Jews expected God to act in a way that they could understand completely, but He caught them off guard. He was one step ahead of them. They could not know the day nor the hour of His coming, try as they might. He came, and they were not ready. He was not unreasonable or foolish, but, as St. Paul says, His foolishness was wiser than their wisdom, and His weakness was stronger than their strength.
Often, God acts in ways that we cannot anticipate. His order of creation is rational and beautiful, and His precepts are clearly communicated for all to embrace. But in the day-to-day action of grace, and especially in the hour of our death and the Second Coming, He is unpredictable. Let us learn from the foolish virgins and the Jews to prepare ourselves for God to act in a way that surprises us. We may hope and pray for certain things, but God knows best, and He already has planned what will happen, while allowing for our cooperation in it. If we strive to practice faith and charity, and are resigned to follow the will of God within the changing opportunities and graces of life, we will be prepared to recognize Him when He comes.
“Estén pues, preparados, porque no saben ni el día ni la hora” (Mateo 25,13). El Evangelio de hoy termina con estas palabras, un claro recordatorio de que debemos estar preparados para la Segunda Venida, o la hora de nuestra muerte, lo que ocurra primero, y lo más probable es que no sepamos cuándo llegará.
Las cinco vírgenes previsoras pasaron su tiempo en esta tierra preparándose lo mejor que pudieron para la fiesta de bodas del Cordero, acumulando su suministro de aceite a través de sus obras de caridad. Las cinco vírgenes descuidadas contaban con la capacidad de reconocer cuándo vendría el Esposo a llevarlas al banquete, pero fueron tomadas por sorpresa, sin el aceite de la caridad.
Las vírgenes descuidadas se parecen mucho a los judíos descritos por San Pablo en la primera lectura. Los judíos pensaban que sabían qué buscar en un Mesías y seguramente lo reconocerían cuando lo vieran, pero no esperaban la Cruz. Si hubieran estudiado las Escrituras con un corazón abierto al Espíritu Santo, hubieran estado preparados, pero sus corazones no estaban abiertos a la posibilidad de que Dios actuara de una manera que no esperaban. Por eso la Cruz iba y venía, y lo veían como un escándalo.
Las vírgenes descuidadas y los judíos esperaban que Dios actuara de una manera que pudieran entender completamente, pero Él los tomó por sorpresa. Estaba un paso adelante de ellos. No podían saber el día ni la hora de su venida, por mucho que lo intentaran. Él vino y ellos no estaban listos. No era irracional ni necio, pero, como dice San Pablo, su necedad era más sabia que la sabiduría de ellos, y su debilidad era más fuerte que su fortaleza.
A menudo, Dios actúa de maneras que no podemos anticipar. Su orden de creación es racional y hermoso, y sus preceptos se comunican claramente para que todos los adopten. Pero en la acción cotidiana de la gracia, y especialmente en la hora de nuestra muerte y de la Segunda Venida, Él es impredecible. Aprendamos de las vírgenes descuidadas y de los judíos a prepararnos para que Dios actúe de una manera que nos sorprenda. Podemos esperar y orar por ciertas cosas, pero Dios sabe más y ya ha planeado lo que sucederá, aunque permite nuestra cooperación en ello. Si nos esforzamos por practicar la fe y la caridad, y nos resignamos a seguir la voluntad de Dios dentro de las cambiantes oportunidades y gracias de la vida, estaremos preparados para reconocerlo cuando venga.
David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University, and is the editor of the anthology Ever Ancient, Ever New: Why Younger Generations Are Embracing Traditional Catholicism.
Feature Image Credit: Gadiel Lazcano, unsplash.com/photos/lighted-candle-in-dark-room-HDlgRUHBfXA
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