Preparing for the Heavenly Wedding Feast

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In this Sunday’s Gospel we encounter the parable of the ten virgins, our Lord Jesus describes ten young women waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. Our Lord Jesus uses this parable to remind us of the need to remain watchful and to have enough oil in our lamps. The oil is the grace in our soul that flows from the sacraments.

While we walk as pilgrims here on earth, we have to keep our eyes fixed on the wedding feast of heaven which represents the eternal union of our soul with God to which we are all invited. Thus, our journey here should be a constant preparation for that final encounter with God.

The oil of the lamps in the gospel can be interpreted as a symbol of God’s grace in our soul, the grace of the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity given to us in the sacrament of Baptism. The grace of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit received in the sacrament of confirmation. The grace that flows from the sacrament of reconciliation preparing us to approach the altar of the Eucharist. The grace that flows from the anointing of the sick. The grace that flows from the sacrament of marriage. The grace that flows from reading the word of God, knowing that knowledge of God turns into light and light into love for Him. The grace that flows from persevering in our own vocation which makes us spiritually ready for the final wedding feast of heaven.

My brothers and sisters we cannot wait till the final moment to prepare our souls for that that final encounter with God; we must cultivate all those gifts and graces we receive through the sacraments. Thus, I encourage you to remain close to the sacraments and to avail yourselves to the light and grace that flows from each one of them for your spiritual well being.

By virtue of our Baptism our soul has been filled to the brim with the oil of the Holy Spirit. We have all been invited to the heavenly feast of Heaven, so through the sacraments we must remain vigilant and prepare like those five prudent virgins in the gospel waiting for the coming of the Divine Bridegroom.

May we keep our souls burning through prayer, faith and fidelity to God’s commandments, so that when our Lord comes, He may find us ready to enter the everlasting wedding feast.

With Blessings,

+Fr. Gabriel Barrera.