November 8 th, 2026 (32 Sunday Ordinary A)

Dear brothers and sisters, God wants to give us today wisdom. To be wise is really a gift. The Gospel speaks of 10 virgins, five of them were foolish and the other five were wise. Why were some foolish and others wise? Some were wise because they filled their flasks with oil while the others, the foolish ones, did not. So, when at midnight the bridegroom unexpectedly arrived, they could wake up, light their lamps and go out to welcome him and enter with him into the feast. The foolish ones, instead, not having the oil could not light their lamps, so they arrived late and so the door was already closed and they remained out. What does this parable that Jesus speaks tell us? It tells us that our life is very serious. That the bridegroom is coming to meet us and we are called to be prepared. God is inviting us to take oil, meaning to take advantage of the gift of the Church and the graces God everyday gives us, we have not to take them for granted like the foolish virgins do. To be wise is to take oil with us. It is to receive faith while we have the chance before it is too late. Because death and suffering sooner or later will arrive for everyone. Many times like the bridegroom they arrive to us unexpectedly at midnight when it's late and all is dark. So if we do not have faith, that is this oil, we will be completely lost. But if we have taken advantage so far of the graces God gives us and we have stored oil and faith for us we can welcome the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and pass with him to the feast. Without faith, without oil, we remain out. The door is locked in front of us and we remain with the sadness and hopelessness of the world that in front of suffering and death has no answer. There is no feast, only sadness without faith. Let us ask God today for this gift of wisdom. That he may fill our lives, these flasks, with faith and the oil of the Holy Spirit so as to welcome Christ with joy when he comes.

Peace, Fr. Nicholas