Preparing for Jesus’ Return

Homily for the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 8, 2020

In Jesus’ day it was a wedding custom for the bridegroom to go to the bride’s house in the evening. When it was announced that the bridegroom was coming, it was the job of the bridesmaids to go out with torches lit to welcome the groom into the house, where the celebration would then begin. Jesus uses the story to illustrate the need for preparedness while we wait for his return.

Obviously, our wedding customs today are different, and we normally don’t use torches that require oil. So, how do we maintain our readiness in an ongoing way? I’d like to reflect on that, focusing not on torches, but on the light itself. After all, Jesus taught that we are “the light of the world.”

Let me begin with a favorite story…. A man built a very prosperous business, and when he was getting on in years, he realized that he had no children to inherit what he had created. So he called in three nephews, deciding to test their creativity and problem-solving skills. He gave each of them an equal amount of money, instructing them to buy something that would fill his rather large office, and he directed that they had to be back by sunset.

All day long each nephew worked separately to fulfill his uncle’s wishes. Finally, when the shadows lengthened, they returned to give their report. The first nephew dragged in huge sacks of Styrofoam packing “peanuts” that nearly filled the office when the sacks were empty. After that was cleaned up, the second nephew arrived with bundles and bundles of helium-filled balloons that floated throughout the office, filling it better than the Styrofoam peanuts.

The third nephew stood silent and forlorn. His uncle inquired of him, “So what have you to offer?” “Uncle,” the nephew replied, “I spent half of my money to help a family whose house burned down last night. Then I ran into some kids in trouble and gave most of the rest to an inner-city youth center. With the little bit I had left, I bought this candle and some matches.” Then he lit the candle and its glowing light filled every corner of the room! The kindly old uncle then realized that here was the noblest of his family. He blessed the nephew for making the best use of his gift and welcomed him into his business.

The beauty of the story is that while it technically fulfills the uncle’s challenge, the candle’s light is, in a deeper sense, symbolic of the true light that the young man brought into the world. It was his kindheartedness and compassion that made him sensitive to the needs of the family with the fire and the youth who were getting into trouble. And rather than thinking only of lighting up his own life and securing his future, he was more concerned about the more desperate needs of others. He had a conscience, an interior readiness to be there for others when they needed help. He truly was light for the world, even without fully appreciating the full significance of the fact that, by thinking of other peoples’ needs ahead of his own, he was securing his future.

So, I don’t think Jesus is saying that we should dash out and buy oil for our lamps—or anything else, for that matter. He taught he could be found among those who were down and out: “I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was naked and you clothed me”…and so on. By taking advantage in an ongoing way of the opportunities to make a difference, and to bring hope to others—that’s how we make sure we have enough oil to keep the light glowing.

I think this is particularly important during this increasingly difficult and anxiety-producing time of Covid-19, economic hardship, social division and personal upheaval. We don’t have the power to solve everything, but we have the ability to do something, to make a difference, one person at a time.

Consider what that might look like for you. Do you know anyone who is isolated or lonely? Someone facing serious illness or surgery? Someone facing a food shortage or coming up short with their rent or other bills? Someone who could benefit from a cheerful voice? All we have to do is what the third nephew did in the story: put someone else’s needs ahead of our own. Spread the light, and we’ll always be ready for the Master’s return.

You might also like

Father's Homilies

Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent December 7, 2025

By Charlene Currie • December 17, 2025
Is It Right?

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent November 30, 2025

By Charlene Currie • December 4, 2025
How Far Do You Want to Go?

Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe November 23, 2025

By Charlene Currie • November 28, 2025
Prairie Chickens and Eagles Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe November 23, 2025 An American Indian tells about a brave who found an eagle’s egg and put it into the nest of a prairie chicken. The eaglet hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All its life the changeling eagle, thinking it was a prairie chicken, did what the other prairie chickens did. It scratched in the dirt for seeds and insects to eat. It clucked and cackled. And it flew in a brief thrashing of wings and flurry of feathers no more than a few feet off the ground. After all, that’s how prairie chickens were supposed to fly. Years passed, and the changeling grew very old. One day it saw a magnificent bird soaring far above in the cloudless sky. Hanging with graceful majesty on the powerful wind currents, it soared with scarcely a beat of its strong golden wings. “What a beautiful bird!” said the changeling eagle to its neighbor. “What is it?” “That’s an eagle—the chief of the birds,” the neighbor clucked. “But don’t give it a second thought. You could never be like him.” So, the changeling eagle never gave it another thought. And it died thinking it was a prairie chicken. Today, we are celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ is the King of all God’s creation. And yet, it is strange that the gospel passage chosen for this feast is the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion. Notice how weak he is. Consider how he is laughed at and made fun of. “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God….If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” So, the problem is one of expectations. The bystanders were looking for an eagle, and all they saw before them was a prairie chicken! And yet, at the end of the gospel, this prairie chicken seems to have some power that prairie chickens don’t normally have. When Jesus is asked by the thief being crucified with him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” Jesus replies, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Hardly a promise that could be made by a prairie chicken! What’s going on here? I’d like to refer us to a passage we find in the writings of St. Paul, a section of his letter to the Philippians that is the second reading on Palm Sunday, when we reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus. Here it is: “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus taught the way of humility and service. He came to raise others up, especially those who were bowed down by poverty or prejudice. He taught that there was no greater love than to lay down one’s life for the love of others. Greatness is found not in building oneself up at the expense of others, but in building up others, especially those who need it the most. So, Jesus emptied himself, to the point of looking like a prairie chicken, and in doing so he showed us the way to the eternal kingdom by means of humble service, that we might become who we truly are, eagles destined to soar beyond the clouds.