Thirtieth-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectio Divina: Scripture Reading + Meditation + Prayer + Contemplation
What page, what passage of the inspired books of the Old and New Testaments is not the
truest guides for human life? (Saint Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict/73:3)
(Thirtieth-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mathew 25:1-13, 08 November 2026)
“The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them
were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought
flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight,
there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for
there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off
to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was
locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to
you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Mathew 25:1-13).
MEDITATION (Meditatio)-The Oil of Faith: Keeping the Light of Christ Alive in Our Parish-This message speaks directly to the pastoral life of Epiphany of the Lord Parish, including our communities of St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas. Like
many parishes, we face the challenges of changing demographics, declining participation, empty pews, the movement of
families away from established neighborhoods, poverty, sickness, and the loneliness experienced by many of our elderly
and isolated parishioners. These circumstances can sometimes make us wonder whether the light of faith is growing dim
in our community.
The Gospel invites us to look more deeply. Are we merely preserving the lamps of our parish, or are we replenishing the
oil that keeps them burning?
The parable therefore challenges us not to measure our parish’s vitality merely by attendance, numbers, or activities. We
must also ask whether the love of Christ is becoming visible in our relationships. Do we notice the elderly person who no
longer has the strength to attend Mass? Do we remember those who are sick or homebound? Do we reach out to those
who have stopped participating? Do we recognize the struggles of families facing poverty? Do we welcome newcomers
and those who feel they no longer belong?
These questions reveal the connection between the oil in our lamps and the mission of our parish. Prayer nourishes our
communion with God, and charity makes that communion visible in our care for one another. The wise virgins teach us
that preparation cannot be postponed indefinitely. We cannot wait until a crisis occurs before beginning to deepen our
prayer, strengthen our community, or care for those in need. A parish becomes spiritually prepared through the small,
faithful acts of Christian life practiced every day. A visit to a sick parishioner, a telephone call to someone living alone, a
welcoming word to a family returning to church, assistance to a person in need, or a sincere invitation to participate in
parish life may appear insignificant. Yet these are ways in which the light of Christ continues to shine in the world. At the
same time, the parable reminds us that spiritual readiness cannot simply be borrowed from someone else. No one can
establish our personal relationship with Christ in our place. The faith of our parents, the prayers of our parish community,
and the holiness of our priests and fellow parishioners can encourage us, but each of us must respond personally to God’s
grace. Our parish community can help one another persevere, but each person must continue to cultivate a living faith
through prayer, the Eucharist, repentance, and works of mercy. For Epiphany of the Lord Parish, the essential question is
therefore not simply whether our lamps are still burning, but whether we are allowing Christ to renew the oil within them.
A parish remains alive not merely because its doors are open, but because the hearts of its people remain open to Christ
and to one another.
PRAYER (Oratio)-Lord, Renew the Oil of Faith in Our Parish-Lord, bless Epiphany of the Lord Parish, our communities of St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas, our priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful. Where participation has diminished,
renew our missionary spirit. Where relationships have weakened, restore communion. Where people have drilled away,
give us the courage to reach out. Where discouragement has taken root, rekindle our hope. Teach us to welcome
newcomers, to encourage our children and young people, to strengthen families in their faith, and to help every parishioner
discover that each person has a place in Your Church. May our celebration of the Eucharist deepen our communion with You
and unite us more closely with one another. May our prayer become service, our faith become charity, and our hope
become perseverance. When the night seems long and the Bride groom appears delayed, keep our lamps burning with the
oil of grace. And when You call us to meet You, may You find us faithful, our hearts prepared, our hands engaged in loving
service, and our parish united in hope. Lord Jesus, keep the light of Your presence burning in our hearts and in our parish,
until we enter the eternal wedding feast of Your Kingdom. Amen.
CONTEMPLATION (Contemplatio)-Becoming a People Whose Lamps Remain Lit- Let us remain silent before the Lord and
allow this command to speak to us personally and as a parish community.
Be still before Christ
Let us ask ourselves quietly:
• Is the oil of prayer nourishing my relationship with Christ, or have I allowed my spiritual life to grow weak?
• Is there someone in our parish who feels forgotten and whom I could accompany with a telephone call, a visit, or
a simple act of kindness?
• Have I become indifferent to empty pews, declining participation, or the struggles of those around me, or do I see
these realities as invitations to renewed mission?
• Am I helping to build a parish in which the elderly are honored, the sick are remembered, the poor are supported,
and newcomers are welcomed?
• If Christ came to meet me today, would He recognize in my life the love and faithfulness of a disciple?
Imagine the light of Christ shining in St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas. See the elderly person who longs for
companionship, the sick person who waits for a visit, the family struggling with financial burdens, the young person
searching for meaning, and the parishioner who has gradually drilled away from the community.
FINAL RESOLUTION (Actio)
Keep the Lamp Burning Through One Concrete Act of Love
This week, let each of us choose one deliberate act that keeps the light of Christ burning in our community:
- Remember the forgotten: Contact an elderly, sick, homebound, or isolated parishioner and offer a visit, a telephone
call, or a prayer. - Welcome the absent: Reach out warmly to someone who has drilled away from parish life, without judgment or
pressure. - Serve the needy: Offer practical assistance, time, or resources to a person or family experiencing hardship.
- Renew personal prayer: Set aside a daily period for Scripture, silent prayer, or reflection on the presence of Christ.
- Strengthen parish communion: Perform one act that builds unity between parishioners and helps make our church
a place of genuine belonging.
Closing Prayer-Lord Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom and our Hope, keep the lamps of our hearts burning with faith. Make our
parish a home of prayer, a refuge for the lonely, a comfort to the sick, a companion to the elderly, a source of hope for the
discouraged, and a sign of Your love to the poor. Amen.
Fraternally,
Fr. John Peter Lazaar SAC, Pastor