Running on Empty

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from November 6, 2005

"The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them" Matt. 25:2

TODAY'S GOSPEL HAS spiritual and practical application.

This past week celebrated All Saints. I recalled my patron saint Gerard Majella. I was always struck by the fact that he kept a skull and cross bones on his desk, I am assuming, to remind himself that he would not go on forever. We need no more that the falling leaves of November to bring home to us our fragile mortality.

The readings reflect the church's focus on the end times, as we approach the culmination of the liturgical year with the Feast of Christ the King. We are urged to "Stay awake" for the bridegroom is near.

The oil the wise virgins carried for their lamps may be seen as symbols of God's grace. More specifically oil is a sign of the spirit. We join our RCIA candidates in readying ourselves for the sacrament of Confirmation when we are anointed with chrism. We need to be receptive to the spirit, the ongoing indwelling of God in our lives. The first reading from the book of wisdom would seem to underscore the connection of oil and the spirit. The first gift of the spirit is wisdom.

In addition to these transcendent themes, I believe Jesus was a practical man.

When I was younger and more reckless I often drove on empty believing that I would find a gas station in time. Now that I am older, more conservative and cautious I often fill up at the 3/4 mark. It also gives the illusion that you are paying less! I believe many of us drive on empty. How many households in our credit card economy live beyond their means? We can forget the good idea, pay as you go. This attitude is bolstered by our culture. We expect the federal government to respond to disasters at home and abroad, as well as wage two wars and to pay for all of this by reducing taxes and cutting back on the poor! As if the costs of war are to be borne uniquely by civilian casualties and our soldiers' lives.

The Gospel calls for an accounting of the costs and for wisdom in all our decision -making, personally, spiritually and in our role as faithful citizens.

During some of the Masses this weekend cars were leafleted promoting a candidate for the November state elections. This has been done without the permission of the parish or diocese. The Church has no part to play in partisan politics, or in telling people for which candidate to vote. However, we are called to bring wisdom to bear on our choices, examining leaders on where they stand on values of life and justice. We need to look at life issues in the areas of abortion, stem cell research, euthanasia as well as our church's teachings on death penalty (also a life issue), service to the poor, immigration, care for creation and other justice concerns. "For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence". Wis 6: 15.

Let us take the Gospel parable and let each of us find the meaning of the oil we need for our lamps: grace, the spirit, wisdom and much else.