The readings for Feria II after the 24th Sunday after Pentecost—Sirach 51:1-8; 5:12, and Matthew 25:1-13—offer a profound meditation on gratitude, wisdom, and vigilance as we approach the end of the liturgical year and contemplate the last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. These texts guide us in cultivating an interior disposition attuned to God’s saving action, wisdom in our speech and actions, and vigilance for the coming of the Bridegroom.
Gratitude for God’s Deliverance
The passage from Sirach begins with a hymn of thanksgiving:
“I will give praise to thee, O Lord, O King, and I will bless thy name forever and ever. I will give praise to thee, because thou hast been a helper and a protector to me” (Sir 51:1-2).
This prayer echoes the spirit of the Psalms, emphasizing the believer’s reliance on God in times of peril. St. Ambrose highlights how gratitude for God’s deliverance is not only an act of worship but also a weapon in spiritual warfare:
“Gratitude is the shield of the soul, for it acknowledges that all good comes from God and wards off despair in the hour of trial.”
Like Sirach, we too must remember to offer continual praise for God’s providence in our lives, especially when we reflect on how He has guided us through difficulties. This gratitude fosters humility, reminding us that salvation comes not through our own strength, but through His grace.
The Practice of Prudence in Speech and Actions
The brief but poignant verse from Sirach 5:12 exhorts:
“Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and grow old in the work of thy commandments.”
This wisdom resonates with the teachings of St. Augustine, who often reminded his flock of the power of words and deeds to either lead one closer to or further from God. He writes:
“Let your tongue be silent if it will not speak the truth; let your heart be vigilant that it not wander from the commandments” (Sermon 58).
In our daily interactions, the virtue of prudence requires us to weigh our words and actions, ensuring they reflect the covenant we have with God. It is through fidelity in these small things that we remain ready for the larger tests of faith, as the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 illustrates.
Vigilance in Waiting for the Bridegroom
The Gospel passage recounts the familiar parable of the wise and foolish virgins. The wise virgins prepare by bringing extra oil for their lamps, while the foolish ones are caught unprepared when the bridegroom arrives.
The Bridegroom, Christ, calls us to be vigilant and prepared for His coming—whether at the hour of our death or the Last Judgment. St. Gregory the Great reflects on this parable, interpreting the oil as the works of charity and the light of faith:
“The oil of the wise virgins is the light of mercy and good works, for the lamp of faith cannot shine without the oil of charity” (Homilies on the Gospels, 2.40).
The foolish virgins’ lack of oil reveals their spiritual negligence. They had faith (the lamp) but lacked the sanctifying actions necessary to sustain it. St. John Chrysostom further elaborates that vigilance is a habit cultivated through daily acts of prayer and self-denial:
“Watchfulness is the mother of all virtues, for without it, faith grows cold, and charity withers” (Homily on Matthew 25).
A Call to Readiness
In these waning days of the liturgical year, the Church reminds us of the urgency of living as those who are prepared for the Bridegroom’s arrival. Sirach’s gratitude for deliverance, his exhortation to prudence, and Christ’s call to vigilance invite us to align our hearts with the coming of the Lord.
The challenge is clear: to live every moment as though it were our last, offering thanks for God’s mercy, remaining steadfast in His commandments, and practicing the works of charity that keep the oil of faith burning brightly.
Let us pray with the words of St. Augustine:
“Lord, may we be ever vigilant, with our lamps trimmed and burning, that we may enter into the wedding feast of your eternal joy.”
In this season of preparation, may we strive to be among the wise virgins who rejoice at the Bridegroom’s arrival, offering the light of lives filled with faith, hope, and love.