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Message from the desk of the Pastor:

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Gospel Reading 

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, teaching his disciples the importance of being prepared to receive the Kingdom of Heaven.

Background on the Gospel Reading

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus talks about what it means to be prepared to receive      the Kingdom of Heaven. This week’s reading follows a series of warnings and predictions by Jesus about the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus wants his    disciples to understand that the exact day and time cannot be predicted. He    teaches the disciples that they must remain vigilant so that they will not be        caught unprepared.

When thinking about the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, it is important            to consider the first-century wedding traditions of Palestine. Scholars tell us that        it was the custom of the day for young maidens—friends and family members of    the bride—to meet the bridegroom when he came to bring his bride to her new    home.

As with many of Jesus’ parables, several levels of interpretation are possible. In      last week’s Gospel, we heard Jesus warn against following the example of the Pharisees and scribes. If read in the context of early Christianity’s struggle to      define itself against Pharisaic Judaism, this parable is a continuing critique of Judaism. It suggests that the Jewish leaders were like the foolish virgins,  unprepared to meet Jesus, the bridegroom of Israel.

In the chapter preceding this parable, however, Jesus warns about the destruction    of Jerusalem, the tribulation of the end times, and the coming of the Son of Man. When read in this context, today’s parable is a warning to the Christian community    to remain vigilant and prepared to receive Jesus, the Son of Man who will return at the end of time. This interpretation is supported by the reference to the delay of      the bridegroom. The Christian community for whom Matthew wrote this Gospel    was coming to terms with the realization that the promise of Jesus’ return would    not be fulfilled within their lifetimes. The question remains for us to ask ourselves, Are we ready to receive Jesus? Will we be prepared to receive him?

Family Connection

In the daily activities of family life, we can easily find excuses for not attending          to our spiritual lives. If not given top priority, prayer and reading Scripture risk becoming occasional activities rather than daily practices. In today’s Gospel,      Jesus reminds us that if we fail to give our spiritual life priority, we will find    ourselves unprepared to receive Jesus. Daily prayer and spiritual practice            keeps us ready to receive Jesus.

Gather together as a family and talk about some of the things our faith calls us            to do every day and every week to keep God first in our lives. Talk about what      might happen if we don’t do these things regularly. Explain to your family that      Jesus taught us that it is important to keep ourselves ready to receive him            when he comes again. Tell them to listen as you read the parable that Jesus          tells in today’s Gospel. Read aloud Matthew 25:1-13. Talk with your family about    why Jesus says that it is so important to remain ready to receive the Kingdom of    Heaven. Pray together that your family will always keep God first in your lives so    that you will all be prepared to receive Jesus when he comes. Pray together the      Act of Hope.