ThirtySecond Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 2023

Title

Be Ready for the King Who is Seeking You

Outline

Sometimes it seems like we are seeking God

We are on a quest seeking the elusive God, who is difficult to find.

There is a truth to that in that we have to open our eyes, we have to wait, and we have to be prepared, but in fact the emphasis in our readings is that God is coming to and for us, that divine Wisdom is already sitting by the gate waiting for us to see her, that God wants us with him.

The image of Wisdom spans the testaments

It is found in Proverbs, Sirach, Wisdom, and James, among other places. She is read and waiting to maker herself known to us, but she does not force herself on us, she waits for us to seek her, to open our eyes, to set our hearts on her. She is the lover who is, perhaps, unnoticed next door, but who will not force herself/himself on us. Rather, the lover waits until we show our openness our seeking, and then we discover he/she has been there all the time waiting for us.

Jesus pictures himself as a bridegroom coming for his bride

He is coming, but we do not know when. We, the virgin Israel, virgin Church, show our waiting by being by the road with our lamps burning. It is so easy to give up waiting, for we do not think of all he has to do to prepare for our coming - in Jesus’ case, to prepare the world, even the universe - so some cannot last and cannot wait because they are off buying oil. Those ready and waiting he eagerly leads to the banquet. To those not ready he simply says, “I do not know you.” Oh, that is scary, for it is easy to feel sleepy and to lose that radical edge of our first commitment. But he never gets tired of waiting for the right moment for coming.

Finally, we have Paul addressing Christians with deceased brothers and sisters.

Yes, he says, you grieve, for you feel the separation. But do not grieve like the world, for he is still coming for them. Paul uses the picture of the parousia of a king or victorious general, coming to take charge of a city. A trumpet is heard, the vanguard of the army comes proudly marching out of the blue towards the city. Too bad Joe and Susie could not see this. No, there they are. They are already with the king, raised from the dead with him as they died with him, and we are caught up to line the way as the procession goes by and then to fall in behind our resurrected brothers and sisters. And when he reaches the city gates and enters and sets up his throne, we will not disperse, but will be forever with the Lord.

He sought us, the claimed our allegiance, death itself could only join us more closely to him, and when he comes in the end it is to reunite the living and the dead.

We are not playing “seek” but rather, ears cocked, “be ready” - however long the wait may be.

Sisters, with All Saints and All Souls (in two different versions!) it can seem like we are seeking.

But in fact it is he that is seeking us, patiently waiting for the right time for his coming.

As Wisdom he is already here waiting for our attention. As the Bridegroom he is getting all things ready to come.

As the exalted king he is waiting for the right time for his parousia, although he is already preparing the resurrected dead for that moment.

The question we have to ask is are we actually seeking Wisdom, opening our eyes to see who is right in front of us? Are we prepared for a patient wait with oil enough to shine out brightly when he comes? Are we weighed down with sorrow, perhaps missing the trumpet, or are we realizing that those we miss enjoy his presence and because of this we are patiently waiting with ears alert for the trumpet blast.

The point is that we do not need to seek the king, for he is coming for us, but we need to be awake and alert ready for the king so that we can go in to the eternal wedding feast.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 11-12-2023: Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Wisdom of Solomon 6:12–16

12 Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom,

and she is readily perceived by those who love her,

and found by those who seek her.

13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her;

14 one who watches for her at dawn will not be disappointed,

for she will be found sitting at the gate.

15 For setting your heart on her is the perfection of prudence,

and whoever keeps vigil for her is quickly free from care;

16 Because she makes her rounds, seeking those worthy of her,

and graciously appears to them on the way,

and goes to meet them with full attention.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-12-2023: Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 63:2b

2 O God, you are my God—

it is you I seek!

For you my body yearns;

for you my soul thirsts,

In a land parched, lifeless,

and without water.

PSALM

Psalm 63:2–8

2 O God, you are my God—

it is you I seek!

For you my body yearns;

for you my soul thirsts,

In a land parched, lifeless,

and without water.

3 I look to you in the sanctuary

to see your power and glory.

4 For your love is better than life;

my lips shall ever praise you!

5 I will bless you as long as I live;

I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.

6 My soul shall be sated as with choice food,

with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you!

7 I think of you upon my bed,

I remember you through the watches of the night

8 You indeed are my savior,

and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-12-2023: Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Option A

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

13 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, console one another with these words.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-12-2023: Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 24:42a, 44

42  Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

44 So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

GOSPEL

Matthew 25:1–13

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, 4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. 11  Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 12 But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 11-12-2023: Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Wisdom of Solomon 6:12–16

Response Psalm 63:2b

Psalm Psalm 63:2–8

Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 or 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 24:42a, 44

Gospel Matthew 25:1–13

GREEN