Aloha nui to all as we enter the 32nd week in Ordinary Time and fast approach the season of Advent and the coming of the Lord at Christmas!
It is always good to be prepared, to be ready for something. Most teachers will tell you that they spend most of their time preparing to teach than actually teaching.
It is the same with us and our faith. We have to stay awake and not be sleeping. We have to be prepared. We have to be ready.
One slip can sideline us for some time. Faith is a constant battle against the forces of darkness that threaten to erode it. As the ten virgins discovered in next Sunday’s Gospel, it is those who are ready, those who are wise, that get to enter the wedding feast of the Lamb. We have this week examples of faithfulness, of wisdom and of readiness.
Monday is All Souls Day when we honor all of our beloved faithfully departed! Those who have gone before us to await our coming and the coming of the Lord in all eternity. Tuesday we celebrate St. Martin de Porres, a religious brother who served the African slaves in South America. Wednesday we celebrate St. Charles Borromeo, a bishop who helped reform the church.
Scripture:
“Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25)
Blessings, pono and pule!
Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest