Today the gospel according to Matthew, chapter 25, verses 1 to 13 is read in all the Catholic churches of the world.
The groom is Christ who comes to celebrate the definitive weddings with his wife, the Church, in the palace of heaven.
Girls represent us all in the hope of Christ’s return. Already the people of Israel waited for him for centuries as Messiah and Savior, but did not recognize him. His people did not receive it, they did not recognize him in the manger of Bethlehem, except the wizards and the shepherds. They didn’t hear him preaching to his people. And they crucified him. They did not see their light, and when they did not believe they were left in darkness, without lamp, without faith, without light. The risen Lord is in heaven and one day he will come at the end of time. But also, first, he will come to receive our soul, full of goodness at the end of our lives.
How wonderful that when he comes he finds us at Sunday Mass, in a merciful action, in family prayer, in the teaching of catechism, in forgiveness for those who have done us evil, in family love! Thus, the lamp of our faith will be fully lit with the oil of love.
How bad that he finds us bundled, with hatred, with spite, with insults, forgotten of God and his kingdom! He will find us without oil, without light, without faith, without love, with the lamps off.
(Song)
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the light of this world” (Matthew, chapter 5, verse 14 to 16).
Before the age of electricity, the streets were lit with oil lamps. Those who lit them did it with a lit torch.
One night a couple was standing by their window. They could see the torch that was setting the lamps on, but because of the darkness there was, they could not see the man carrying the torch from place to place. All they could see was the torch lights. Then the husband told his wife that he was next door: “Those who light the torches are a good example for Christians. They may never be seen, but you know they’ve been there in the wake of lights they leave in their wake.”
What’s the wake of lights I’m leaving in my wake? People will doubt what we say, but they will believe what we do.
(Song)
Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years are blessings and opportunities to fill our oil lamp with good works.
Time does not wait and if we fill it with service to God and neighbour, the Lord can come at any time. God always offers you a chance. It’s called today.
To realize the value of a year:
Ask a student who has completed a final exam.
To realize the value of a month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of a week:
Ask the editor of a weekly magazine.
To realize the value of a day:
Ask a child who expects the Three Wise Men to arrive tomorrow.
To realize the value of an hour:
Ask the bride and groom waiting to see each other.
To realize the value of a minute:
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize the value of a second:
Ask a person who survived an accident.
To realize the value of one hundredth of a second:
Ask the person who won a silver medal at the Olympics.
(Song)
Hello Jesus! How are you?
I am writing to greet you and because now I do have to fill myself, for the lamp with which you sent me into the world has been depleting me of oil over the years.
For example, patience ran out completely, as did prudence and tolerance. I have little hope left and the lamp of faith is also empty. Imagination is also scarce these days. So I’d like to ask you for new products for my lamp.
To begin with, I’d like you to fill the jars of patience and tolerance. But to the full end! And please send me the intensive course: “How to be more cautious”, volumes 1, 2, 3, 4.
Send me several big bottles, too. But great, of much-needed maturity. I’d also like a big tank of smiles that brighten anyone’s day. I ask you to send me two large, heavy stones to tie at my feet and always have them on the ground.
If you have a compass around you to guide me and take the right path, I’d really appreciate it.
Give me imagination again; but not too much, because I must confess that sometimes I took large amounts and packed me. New illusions and a double ration of faith and hope would also give me excellent.
I also ask you for a color palette to paint my life when I see it gray and dark. I’d use a garbage can to throw away everything that hurts me.
Please send me a bottle of menthiolate and a box of Band-Aid to heal my heart, because lately it has stumbled quite a bit and has many scratches.
I ask you for a lot of carrots, to have a good view and not let the opportunities pass by for not seeing them. I also need a big, very large watch, so that every time I see it reminds me that time is running out and I must not waste it.
You could send me a lot of strength and security in myself. I know I’m going to need them to endure the tough times and to get up when I fall.
I would also like a box of pills that make willpower and commitment grow, so that I do well in life. And I ask you about three or four tons of desire to live, to fulfill my dreams.
I also need a pen with a lot of ink, to write down all my accomplishments and failures.
But most of all, I ask you to give me a lot of life, to achieve everything I have in mind and to see that I do not waste the time you gave me on earth.
Beforehand, I thank you for what you can send me, and I thank you for twice as much as you told me the first time.
With a lot of love… Your son….
(Song)
To him who has no time, to which he is eternal in his love, we turn confidently as children.
Our Father…
To the Mother who has all the time for us, we address her fully confidently as her children.
God save you, Mary…
And the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, descend upon each and every one of us, our family and friends, and lead us to eternal life. Amen.
(Song)
Below we offer in full the allocution of the Cardinal and Archbishop of Havana, Archbishop Juan de la Caridad García.
Be the first to comment