WISDOM SEEKS FULLNESS OF LIFE.

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR A.
November 9, 2008.
(First reading: Wisdom 6:12-16) (Psalm 63:2-8)
(Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) (Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13)


WISDOM SEEKS
FULLNESS OF LIFE.

True wisdom always seeks fullness of life.

Wisdom begins with a heartfelt appreciation of the supreme value of human life, and it reaches its perfection with the uncompromising respect and protection of all human life.

A person of wisdom is, therefore, someone who is always "prepared" and "awake" (Matthew 25:13) to live life to the fullest (Just as the five wise virgins were in possession of enough oil to keep their lamps burning).

Since every human being is endowed with life, everyone has the responsibility and the right to respect and protect life both individually and collectively, born and unborn, under any state or condition. Thus everyone is endowed with the potential to achieve true wisdom.

The wise are those who make sure that life is nurtured and fulfilled in every human being without exception.

The "foolish", on the other hand, are the ones who neither protect nor respect the life of their fellow human beings. The "foolish" make no provision that life be respected nor protected because they truly do not care about human life (Just as the five foolish virgins did not care about bringing extra oil for their lamps). The "foolish" are satisfied with life for themselves but do not care about life for others.

The gospel highlights the difference between the wise virgins and the foolish ones: the wise virgins were truly committed to meet the bridegroom (Life) and thus went prepared carrying additional oil, whereas the foolish virgins by not bringing additional oil demonstrated disregard for the bridegroom.

Wisdom is much more than just mere knowledge or understanding or expertise. Wisdom involves the ability to live in peace and justice, in harmony and unity with all human beings and with God, who is the source and fountain of life itself.

Those who enrich our wisdom (that is, our capacity to life live to the fullest) are those who themselves live life to the fullest, of whom the first is our Lord Jesus Christ (who reveals the Life of God to us and redeems our life), then our Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary (who is "full of grace", full of God's life) followed by all the saints in heaven and all our fellow human beings on earth who struggle for justice and peace.

The doors of the wedding feast are opened to those who possess the wisdom that leads to fullness of life.