How prepared are we?

This one is among the serious questions as winter or the end of the year approaches: How prepared are you? Editors often ask this question to road workers in charge of winter road maintenance.

Similarly, the Lord God asks us: How prepared are you? In the Gospel, these words were spoken. “The bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (Mt 25:6).

These words of Jesus were spoken while Jesus was instructing the crowds in the silence of the mountain. Shortly before, He had pointed out the actions of two men. He called one of them foolish because he built his house on sand. The other he called wise because he chose to make his home on a rock. The crowds understood. The house on the rock withstood the rush of the waters and the force of the wind, while the house built on sand collapsed.
The wise are those who hear the Gospel and carry it out. Unwise are those who hear these words but do not act on them. Some bring oil with them, others only empty vessels. The oil is the Gospel lived in life. He who has no oil brings with him no work.

Jesus put the seriousness of these words into the pleasant atmosphere of the wedding feast. The wedding itself is enjoyable, and not only the family but all those invited prepare for it. Jesus points out that if we can look forward and rejoice at pleasant events that last only a moment, how much more should we be responsible for preparing for joys that will have no end?
We often judge a person who does not think. We pause over the actions of such people and often ask, “Man, where was your sense?!”
Likewise, the foolish virgins took the lamps but did not take the oil. They did not prepare themselves. Behold, what irresponsibility!

In the spirit of these words of Christ about the wise and foolish virgins, let us consider ourselves. If someone were to call us stupid and unreasonable, we would be able to judge and be angry with him, or at least we would beg to differ. But what if one day it came from the mouth of God Himself? Lest we hear the words of the bridegroom in the Gospel, “Truly I say to you: I do not know you” (Mt 25:12).
Let us notice those virgins whom Jesus praises. Indeed it cost them the trouble of taking and procuring enough oil for their vessels, but it paid off. The reward did not bypass them.

What does this mean for us? We all want to be the wise servants whom Christ praises, “Right, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over little, I will set you over much” (Matt. 25:23). Jesus has placed a precious gift in our hearts – the gift of faith. That lamp of ours, which is to be always ready, which is to shine, is our faith. The more we realize its greatness and beauty, the more its light grows. Only the thief seeks the darkness when stealing so that he may not be seen.
But Christ says: “You are the light of the world…” (Mt 5:14).
All must see our light of faith. He who does not always believe, who believes only when it benefits him, cannot be a wise virgin. Today’s unbelieving world looks critically at us Christians. If they do not see the works of our faith, they will never desire to join our ranks, to unite with us. Shining lamps in the hands of virgins, these are our days lived in union with God.
How much oil is in my supply, and what is the state of my soul? What is our attitude towards prayer, towards the sacraments, towards the Mass, towards our brothers and sisters?

A ready Christian is a happy Christian. Such a one does not worry about tomorrow. He is not afraid of reproach or ridicule. He does not hide his face from shame and spittle. He often surrenders his soul to the Father. Always again and again. Life without God, without faith, is nonsense, madness. A life full of faith is shown to us by sane virgins. Today’s century is permeated with unbelief and darkness, so I ask you: Who is to give back to the world the joy, the lost faith, if not us? We who beat our breasts that we are Christians! If we want to leave truly happy, let us make a serious decision. Be always ready! The bridegroom is not coming; I am healthy and young, and death is still far off, but “I am ready.”

You all probably know the writer Cronin. Do you know how he came to faith? Strangely and excitingly: As a young doctor, he worked in a mining village. One day, the gas exploded in the mine, and a group of 14 miners was left underground. While the rescue crews were doing their best, the whole settlement prayed feverishly and asked God for help. After five days, the rescuers reached the miners. They were all shocked to see no trace of despair on the faces of the miners, on the contrary. They came out singing: Lord, our help from the ages…
When the young doctor Cronin saw this, he didn’t even want to believe it. When asked who had given them so much courage, they replied: “Faith in God who loves us!” Then Cronin, believing neither in God nor the human soul, began to think, study and pray. After years of searching, he found God. He was baptized and became a Christian.

Behold, simple people, and they were able to light a lamp for a man who thought he no longer needed anyone.
We don’t abound with anything special, either. We boast of nothing else except in the crosses of Jesus Christ. Do we not also want to light, to give joy to others? But first, we must shine! Everyone must see that we are ready. We must be able to discern the values in our lives.

Those in charge often make excuses for others; road workers for contractors, superiors for subordinates, subordinates for seniors, just because they didn’t do everything they could to prepare. What about us Christians? Are we prepared? Is everything right with our faith?