Once upon a time there was an old mother pig who had three little pigs
and not enough food to feed them. So,
when they were old enough, she sent them out into the world to seek their
fortunes.
The first little pig was
very lazy. He did just enough to get by building
his house of straw. The second little pig worked a little harder,
but he too was somewhat lazy, in building his house out of sticks. They both preferred to sing, dance, and play the
rest of the day together. The third little pig worked hard all day
and built his house with bricks. It was
a sturdy house complete with a fine fireplace and chimney. It looked like it could withstand the
strongest winds.
You know the story, the first and second little pigs prepared poorly
for the possibility of the unexpected storms of life. When challenged by the big bad wolf, as he
huffed and puffed and blew their poorly made houses down, they ran to their
neighbor and brother who was well prepared for the day of tribulation.
Jesus’ parable is about readiness,
confirming that preparation is a long-term process and not a last-minute,
hurried response. Disciples are warned that failure to be ready can
mean they will miss the feast. For the
parable is not about just staying awake, but about being responsible and
responsive when called.
Paul uses the same word agaiasmos
(holiness) three times in today’s first reading, insisting that Christians are
called to sanctification, purity, and separation from sin. He is reminding the
Church at Thessalonica, and us, to
continue to conduct ourselves, “to walk” in a way that pleases God. And what pleases God? That we’d be physically pure and morally
blameless, a reflection of the “otherness” of God. To keep the “light” of holiness burning and prepared
for the unknown time that the bridegroom appears.
The foolish virgins in Jesus’ parable fail to reflect the light of
holiness. Their lamps have gone dark. They ran to their neighbor in their need,
like the first two little pigs, however,
in this parable, the five wise virgins could not supply the others’ need.
The ultimate source of holiness is God. It is our relationship with God that enables
us to share in the characteristic purity of the Divine One. As we are being invited to enter more deeply
into our worship of Him, around this Eucharistic table, are our lamps ready to
reflect His holiness, now and as we engage the world in our everyday lives
