Sunday Homily 11-6-11, 32nd Ordinary Time
Readings: Wisdom 6, 12-16, Resplendent and unfading is wisdom; Psalm 63, My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord My God; 1 Thessalonians 4, 13-18, Console one another; Matthew 25, 1-13, The 10 virgins at the wedding.
The first reading (Wisdom 6:12-16) informs us that when we lovingly yearn for and seek God’s wisdom we will not be disappointed. This reading is an expectation for the good news of Jesus Christ that we will receive today.
(prior to reading the gospel)
Picture the following plausible scenario: A father and mother determined two years earlier that their first son was in need of a wife, and they have been following closely the daughters that have come of age in their extended family when they gather in Jerusalem for the feasts each year. Together they have chosen one. The father sends a warm message to the girl’s father, who he knows relatively well, and asks the price he has in mind for his daughter. They agree on one and set a date for the betrothal.
The father and his son arrive and are greeted warmly by her father. In front of the young couple, who have probably never had a conversation with each other, the fathers play their game of coming to the previously agree price—ten cows and a barrel of good wine, some of which the two fathers are now drinking.
Once the contract is signed they hand the groom a cup of wine taken specifically from the bottom of the wine the fathers have been drinking. It contains the particles that have settled…from the bitter skin of the grape. The groom takes a drink from the top of the cup and hands the cup to the young woman. She has practiced what she now does. She downs the rest of the cup as a sign that she agrees to be his wife in good times and in bitter times.
The groom now returns to prepare a place for her. Meanwhile the girl’s bridesmaids prepare her to be ready for his coming. When they hear the cry that he is coming, they go out to meet him with the bride and her belongings and are led to his father’s house.
(the gospel reading from Matthew 25:1-3)
Chapter 25 is formed from three parables. This is the first. Their purpose is to give meaning to a teaching that ends Chapter 24 where Christ is teaching that his servants that he has put over other servants have the responsibility to remain wise (righteous) by always being alert to his words. Each of the three parables gives a different facet of what this means. Since we are told again in this parable that Christ is the bridegroom. We are the bride, for which he paid a great price. His servants have the responsibility to prepare us for Christ’s coming by word and example.
The dilemma of this parable is that only the wise have taken oil for their lamps. The wisdom of the parable is that only those who are prepared for Christ’s coming have entered the wedding banquet. Very briefly, why does the Lord say that he does not know the foolish (unrighteous) bridesmaids who have arrived to the wedding banquet after the door was closed? In the third parable we are told that the Lord has divided humanity into two groups, the lambs and the goats, the foolish and the wise, those who have lived Christ’s words and those who haven’t.
The lambs (those who hear his words and follow them) are the wise who are prepared for his coming. He says to them, ‘I was hungry and thirsty, and you gave me food and drink. I was alone, sick and in prison and you came to visit me.’ And the wise will say, ‘When did we see you hungry and thirsty and fed you, or alone, sick and in prison and visited you.’ The Lord said to them, ‘Whenever you did this to the least among you, you did it to me.’
Of course he says to the foolish, ‘Whenever you did not care for the least among you, you did not care for me.’ (Symbolically: ‘You don’t know me, so how can I know you?’) The oil possessed by the wise symbolizes the presence of the Spirit that enlightens the wise, ‘to love one another as Christ loves them.’
So today, appropriately, we will be anointing the child of Erin and Payton twice during the baptism ritual with the oils of the Church praying that the Spirit always abides with her. And I now invite them to bring this child forward with Godparents and other family to stand before the community with their request.
Mike:
Erin and Payton, what name have you given to this Child? (Brooklyn)
What do you ask this community for Brooklyn? (To have her baptized)
You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility to bring her up by word and example to live the perfect commandment, ‘To love one another as Christ loves us.’ Therefore, will you accept the responsibility to be one of the wise bridesmaids in today’s gospel reading. (Yes)
Likewise, (Godparents) __________ and __________, will you by word and example give witness to your faith in Christ? (Yes)
Brooklyn, the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Christ our Lord by the sign of the cross. (+) I now trace this cross on Brooklyn’s forehead and invite the parents and Godparents to do the same.
John:
Brooklyn, we anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Savior, may he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. (+ with oil on the bare chest)
(+ bless the water) We ask you Father, with your Son, to send the Holy Spirit upon this water. As you are buried with Christ in the death of baptism, rise also with him to newness of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(address the community) Let us stand and join with the parents and Godparents in the profession of faith of the Apostles Creed on page 81 of the missal.)
Erin and Payton, is it your will that Brooklyn be baptized in the faith of the Church which we have professed with you? (yes)
(baptize the child) Brooklyn, I baptize you….
(Lead the community in applause)
Mike: Have parents and Godparents return to their seats
After the Great Amen
Mike: I want to invite the parents to bring the newly baptized Brooklyn before us before we say the Lord’s prayer together.
Brooklyn, you are now anointed with the chrism of salvation (+ crown of the head) to be priest, prophet and king.
(have a Godparent place the garment over her) You have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the sign of your Christian dignity. With family, Godparents, and friends bring that dignity unstained to everlasting life.
(have a God parent light the candle from the candle lit on the altar) Brooklyn, receive the light of Christ. Parents and Godparents, this candle is entrusted to you to keep burning brightly. See to it by word and example that she walks always as a child of the light.
John: Invite them to join hands and join with the community in the Lord’s Prayer.
Mike: Send them back to their seats during the Sign of Peace
Picture 1: Leo with his momma, Shonda, Bethany, & Ben
Picture 2: Mike offering the homily
Picture 3: Brooklyn
Picture 4: Baptism of Brooklyn
Picture 5: Baptism with Mike
Picture 6: Sienna with Brian