A sermon on Matthew 25:1-13

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

Jesus told the story of the 10 virgins who were to use their torches to light the way for the bridegroom to meet his bride. The virgins, whom I call the "foolish five," did not bring enough oil to keep their torches lit. Jesus talks about having enough oil, but what is the meaning of oil in this story? 

The oil is the "spiritual preparation" we need to do to meet Jesus when He comes. Right now you have to prepare for that day when Jesus calls you to your true home in Heaven. We don't know when we will face eternity. That's why you must be in a state of constant preparation. What is the preparation that needs to be done? What does spiritual preparation look like?

I look to the Bible for the answer. 

St. Paul wrote, "You see, God did not appoint us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are also doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11.) 

You prepare for eternity by encouraging others to not lose faith in God and build each other up in hope when trials come into our journey to eternity. That's why God gives us each other. God calls you to help others have enough oil to light their way to Heaven. "And may God, the giver of endurance and of encouragement, grant you to be in full sympathy with one another in accordance with the example of Christ Jesus." (Romans 15:5.) 

Encouragement is words or behavior that give someone confidence to do something. That "something" is to love as Jesus loved, to hope as Jesus hoped, and to persevere with faith as Jesus did. Encouragement is more than making someone feel good. It is more than emotions. Spiritual Encouragement is to help another lift their hearts, minds and souls to God while living in our fallen world of sickness, pain and disease. Prayer and the witness of your faith are the tools God gives you to do this. I use them every time I walk the sacred halls of Children's Hospital. 

I leave you with this beautiful poem about how friendship with God can prepare you to meet Him.

A minister passing through his church
in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened,
a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw
the man hadn’t shaved in a while.

His shirt was kind of shabby
and his coat was worn and frayed,
the man knelt, he bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed,
each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister’s suspicions grew,
with robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask him,
“What are you doing here?”

The old man said, he worked down the road.
Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.

“I stay only moments, see,
because the factory is so far away;
as I kneel here talking to the Lord,
This is kind of what I say:

“I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I’VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER’S FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.

“DON’T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY DAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM
CHECKING IN TODAY.”

The minister, feeling foolish,
told Jim, that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome
To come and pray just anytime.

Past noon one day, the minister noticed
that old Jim hadn’t come.
As more days passed without Jim,
he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him,
learning he was ill.
The hospital staff was worried,
But he’d given them such a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious.
He changed people to hope and believe and think of God.
This was his reward. 

The head nurse couldn’t understand
why Jim was so glad,
when no flowers, calls or cards came,
Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse’s concern:
No friends came to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
up and with a wide smile said;
“the nurse is wrong, she couldn’t know,
that in here all the while

Everybday at noon He’s here,
a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:

“I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,
AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.” (Author Unknown)

Your journey to eternity is enriched when you bring someone else to walk it with you. Blessings... Fr. Mike. 

Fr. Mike Paraniuk is a Priest Chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. His sermons can be heard live over WLRU Radio 106.9 FM on Mondays at 7 p.m.