The final encounter. 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the Church directs our attention to the “ultimate realities”: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Throughout November—beginning with the solemnities of All Saints and All Souls—we are invited to turn our gaze toward eternity. Today’s readings extend and deepen this contemplation.

Saint Paul writes to the Thessalonians: “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who have died, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.".

Facing the reality of death requires wisdom, which serves as the guiding thread for today's readings. In the first reading, we discover that wisdom is “radiant and unfading” And it is easily found by those who seek it. Wisdom is the perfection of prudence; it frees us from anxiety by helping us focus on what truly matters. 

This wisdom is vividly illustrated in today's Gospel parable: the ten virgins awaiting the bridegroom. The fundamental distinction between the wise and foolish virgins lies in their foresight and prudence. All the wise virgins had their lamps, access to the necessary resources, and time to buy oil. The foolish virgins failed to acquire enough oil in time. Their foolishness stemmed not from a lack of means or time, but from procrastination and negligence. They lacked the wisdom to foresee and prepare, and for this reason, they were called foolish.

We are called to examine and assess the “quantity” of our spiritual oil and the ways in which it may be dwindling. Neglecting our spiritual life, our prayer life, and the small acts of charity means letting our oil run dry. And the truth is, we cannot borrow oil—our inner life—from others when the time comes that the door is closed.

These sober words —”The door closed”— they express a reality that we will all have to face, and we need to be prudent enough to be prepared for that encounter. 

Our entire life is directed toward a single, definitive encounter: the encounter with Christ. True wisdom demands that we be prepared for this encounter, which involves death. This means making the most of our time on earth to nurture our spiritual life and perform works of mercy, because after death it will no longer be possible to do so.