The Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County

Lately I’ve been enjoying the deep meaning of Eastern icons. I love how they express a tapestry of meaning in a way that can surpass the written or spoken word. Today’s parable of the ten virgins from Jesus is a good example. Try googling “wise and foolish virgins icon” and you’ll see an image of how our Christ meets our heart’s deepest needs if we attend to him with the proper attitude.

I’m serious. Take a moment to google and look at it. See how it depicts the risen Jesus behind a closed door with the five wise virgins with lighted lamps. He gazes with them toward the five foolish and lamp-less virgins, symbolizing the outward-looking of divine love for the lost. Moreover, the wedding feast is no ordinary one. It takes place in a walled city and garden, indicating it’s a new Jerusalem and a return to Eden. The table isn’t typical, either. It’s a Eucharistic feast. Now we see that the door in Jesus’ parable is the way into the church, where Christ is the new light burning amidst the dark midnight of this world.

The richness continues. We notice, too, that the foolish virgins look exactly the same as the wise ones in their clothes, hair, and expressions. The only difference is they departed to buy oil and now they are sadly excluded. We often act like consumers in the marketplace to fulfill our need for love and mercy. We’ll always end up disappointed if we shop around. Jesus sums up the moral of the story this way: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Watch, remain, don’t spiritually shop. It is always better to quietly remain close to the Eucharistic community of the Church, even if we feel like our oil has run out. This week let’s
consider placing the icon of the wise and foolish virgins on our phone lock screen or computer desktop to help us remember to stay close to him, especially when life feels dark. — Father John Muir ©LPi

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No podemos detener el tiempo y éste pasa volando, los días se van aprisa y los años vuelan. A veces nos preguntamos: ¿Qué fue lo que hice hoy? ¿Qué he hecho en los años que he vivido? La respuesta puede variar, quizá hemos aprovechado todo en la vida, o quizá no hemos logrado todo lo que hubiéramos querido. Pero, hoy, el Evangelio no invita a estar prevenidos, a estar bien preparados. Nos invita a comenzar de nuevo y llenar nuestra alcuza de aceite con actitudes y valores de acuerdo al Evangelio. A tener esperanza, a estar despiertos para cuando llegue la hora.

“Ser sabios y prudentes significa no esperar hasta el último momento para corresponder a la gracia de Dios, sino hacerlo activamente de inmediato, empezar ahora. […] Si queremos estar preparados para el último encuentro con el Señor, debemos cooperar con él a partir de ahora y realizar buenas acciones inspiradas en su amor” (Papa Francisco 11-08-2020). Si notamos en la parábola, todas las vírgenes se despertaron al escuchar el aviso de que llegaba el novio. Todas ellas deseaban participar en el banquete. Sin embargo, solo las prudentes estaban listas para disfrutar de la boda. Señor, ayúdame, a vivir preparado en todo, que siempre esté listo con buenas
obras y tenga tiempo para esperar tu llamada. Actualmente, ¿cómo me preparo para acudir al banquete de la Eucaristía? Estoy puntual, y listo para participar. ©LPi