Readings: Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thess. 4:13-14; Matthew 25:1-13
You never live well if you are Afraid of Death!
1. Nineteen hundred years ago, the volcano Mt. Vesuvius erupted in Italy. When the eruption ended, the city of Pompeii lay buried under 18 feet of volcanic ash. The city remained that way until modern times when archaeologists excavated it. What they found amazed everyone. There were carbonized loaves of bread, fruit still retaining its flavor, and olives still swimming in their oil. But there were even more amazing discoveries. The volcanic ash had frozen people in the exact position they had occupied when the disaster struck. The bodies of the people decayed. As they did, they left behind hollow cavities in the hardened ash.
2. By pouring liquid plaster into these cavities, archaeologists were able to make casts of the victims. Some of the casts evoke an emotional response. For example, one is that of a young mother hugging her child tightly in her arms. Another is that of a Roman sentry still at his post, standing erect, fully armed. He had remained calm and faithful to his duty to the end. A third is that of a man standing upright with a sword in his hand. His foot is resting on a pile of gold and silver. Scattered about him are five bodies, probably would-be looters he had killed. This story demonstrates the points made in today’s readings. We must be prepared, for we do not know when Our Lord’s call will come. The one question to ask is, how prepared are we? My father, who died on August 20, 2023, was always prepared for his death. As a child, he made us say a prayer for a happy death every night before we went to bed. I was always scared of praying for death before going to bed at night. My father made sure that his grave was dug even as he inspected it. He took pains to explain everything to us in detail on what to do after his demise.
3. Today’s Gospel reading reminds us that we should always be prepared like the wise virgins who took their lamps and oil in readiness to meet with the bridegroom. My dad had enough oil in his flask in readiness for his master’s return. So, I ask you, do you have enough oil in your flask to keep you waiting through the long night of the delay for your master? Where do you produce your oil? For my father, prayer was the factory where his oil was produced, manufactured, and distributed. This story says it all: “There was an old man who carried a little can of oil everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he put a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. So, he passed through life lubricating all the creaking places, making it easier for those who came after him. People called him eccentric, strange, cranky, odd, and even harsher names. But the old man went steadily on, refilling his can of oil when it became empty and oiling the squeaking places he found. He did not wait until he found a creaky door or a rusty hinge and then went home to get his oil can; he carried it with him at all times. There are many lives that creak and squeak and grate harshly day by day. They need lubricating with the oil of kindness, gentleness, or thoughtfulness. That can of oil is one of the predominant characteristics of a Christian life. Such a can of oil we are to carry around with us at all times.” Prayer was the oil of my father’s life. There, a life of integrity was formed, a relationship was initiated, and his mission was given meaning. Through prayer, his inner life of honesty was fashioned. As a Catechist, he knew he could not share his oil, but he could point people to where they could go to get their own and taught them how to buy their oil.
4. As we come to the end of the year, the Church turns our attention to the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. Are we prepared for the end of our life? Do you know how many stones that are left in your jar? Our span is 70 or 80 for those who are strong. Are you strong enough to add more stones to your jar? “He never lives well who is afraid of dying.” Have you lived well to expect to be happy to be with the Lord? We must wait eagerly for the second coming of Christ so that we do not stagnate and begin to indulge in momentary pleasures. St. Paul reminds us, “You know what hour it is, how it is full-time now for you to wake from sleep. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desire.” (Rom 13:11-14).
5. Let us pray that we may keep our flasks of oil full and ready to help those in need, and, as we care for others, as the widow did to Elijah the prophet (1 Kings 17:7-16), may our jug of oil never run dry. May we never hear the words: “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you!”
Rev. Augustine
Etemma Inwang, MSP
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