Though today’s Gospel reflects the Final Coming of Christ, simultaneously, I can’t help but think about our daily call in everyday encounters until then. Pope Francis explains,

“The Bridegroom is the Lord, and the time of waiting for his arrival is the time he gives to us; it is a time of watchfulness, a time in which we must keep alight the lamps of faith, hope and charity, a time in which to keep our heart open to goodness, beauty and truth.”

When I served on mission with the Cabrini Sisters, I was all packed and ready to go! In some ways, I was like one of those initial five maidens who packed extra oil...but at the same time, I was like one of the foolish maidens who was not adequately prepared - in my case, with extra doses of flexibility and openness. By the grace of God, he filled my lamp along the way.

The Bridegroom in today’s reading, reminded the maidens to stay awake! Be ready! They had their role, but were unable to fulfill the task and instead, became drowsy and fell asleep.

Throughout the year, I take students on immersion trips and service experiences locally and globally. Often times, during reflection time, students come back from these experiences feeling hopeless, or not having any hope or idea of how to respond to what they experienced. And so, I share with them, “Share your story! Share what you have learned, but don’t stop there. Take that next step, and advocate for these issues that may affect our brothers and sisters who are directly affected by such rulings and policies.

Advocate and speak to our local reps about the brothers and sisters you met along the way. Stay awake, challenge yourself to think differently, and keep your experience alive - keep the stories you heard, alive in your heart, and through your actions. You have had such powerful encounters, what will you do with them? “

Catholic Relief Services provides such resources to nurture our call to faith and justice through their commitment to global solidarity - at schools, in parishes, and within communities. When our students have such powerful experiences, or even when friends come and share with me meaningful moments, I can’t help but believe those are moments of grace. In those moments, their hearts were awakened, their minds illuminated, and they are moments worth pondering. These are the encounters that we need to keep alive!

The Bridegroom told the remaining five virgins to stay awake - stay alert. Back then, their role was to, in fact, keep their lamps lit and to stay awake. They knew their role - so why didn’t they fulfill their call and duty? What is it that makes us drowsy and fall asleep?

One of my favorite quotes from Dorothy Day is when she says: “No one has the right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do.”

For various reasons, we too may take on these same feelings of hopelessness,  lacklusterness, or even stubbornness - maybe feeling a loss of energy, apathy, or even simply being tired. I’ve been there! But still, we are called to turn our gaze to faith, hope, charity, beauty, goodness, and truth.

Pope Francis continues and says, “What he [Jesus] asks of us is to be ready for the encounter - ready for an encounter, for a beautiful encounter, the encounter with Jesus, which means being able to see the signs of his presence, keeping our faith alive with prayer, with the sacraments, and taking care not to fall asleep so as to not forget about God….Let us not fall asleep!”

For better or for worse, we cannot un-see what we have seen and experienced on these immersion trips, or on these service experiences, or even  in our daily commute to work or school...so how can we stay awake and be prepared to have these encounters with our brothers and sisters?

One way we can stay awake and keep our lamps full to go forth to love and serve others is by being open to receiving others. When I went to World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada, the poster read, “Who in the world will we meet? God only knows.”

Another way, is to take time at the end of every day to reflect on the different encounters we had. Engage in prayer - with a trusted friend, or perhaps even in a small group. We can ask ourselves,” How did I respond in love? How could I respond more deeply next time with mercy and forgiveness? How can I be more gentle with myself in moments where I feel I did not respond as I would have liked to?” Every day is a fresh start to fill our lamps.

Moreover, the Corporal Works of Mercy may also challenge us in our daily activities - in unexpected ways. When we are driving, and see someone experiencing homelessness, or if someone is actively seeking our help - in those encounters, “Am I ready to see Christ and meet Jesus in my experiences today? Is my faith at a place where I can recognize Christ in others? How can I serve on behalf of peace and justice, acknowledging the human dignity of each person? How am I welcoming the stranger?”

Brothers and sisters, this is not easy - but we see in Christ’s example, his continual willingness to welcome, bless, and anoint these encounters with love, peace, and hospitality. We do not know the day nor the hour of the Final Coming, but we can be present each day to the brothers and sisters God has placed in our midst.

Together, we pray for the grace to be open, and to be willing to engage in new encounters with others, as difficult as it may be at times. As people of love and action, may we be ready with lamps shining bright with faith, hope, and charity to respond in all moments with open hearts. Though we do not know the day or the hour of the Final Coming, until then, may we be willing to accept our responsibility to one another and to work towards the common good - locally here in our own backyards, and around the world.