杏MAP导航

By Seàn-Patrick Lovett

8 Cardinals and a Patriarch passed away over the last year. And 154 Bishops from nearly 40 countries. All of them were remembered by 杏MAP导航 Francis at a Requiem Mass celebrated in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica, at the Altar of the Chair, on Saturday morning.

Going out to meet the Bridegroom

In his homily, the 杏MAP导航 took inspiration from Jesus鈥� parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, as recounted in St Matthew鈥檚 Gospel, who 鈥済o out to meet the Bridegroom鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis drew a parallel between this 鈥済oing out鈥� and our own lives which, he said, are a 鈥渃onstant call to go forth鈥� 鈥� from the womb to the tomb. We are always on the move, he added, 鈥渦ntil we make our final journey鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis described our life as a constant preparation for the wedding banquet, for meeting Jesus, the Bridegroom. This is the encounter that alone 鈥済ives meaning and direction to our lives鈥�, he said.   

Not the lamps but the oil

Commentaries on this Gospel often focus on the lamps carried by the ten bridesmaids. When the lamps of the five foolish bridesmaids go out, the door is closed and they are refused entry to the hall. 杏MAP导航 Francis, instead, turned his attention to what the lamps contain: the oil. He examined three characteristics of oil which he then applied to us and to how we should live our lives. 

Oil is not impressive

Oil is not an impressive substance, he said: 鈥淚t remains hidden, yet without it there is no light鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 invited us to detach ourselves from worldly appearances, to say no to what he called the 鈥渃osmetic culture鈥� that has us obsessing over how we look. Outward appearance passes away, he reminded us. What is important is to 鈥渒eep custody of our inner self, which is precious in the eyes of God鈥�.

Oil must be consumed

Oil gives light only when it is burned, said the 杏MAP导航. Our own lives radiate light only if they 鈥渟pend themselves in service鈥�. 鈥淪ervice鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渋s the ticket to be presented at the door of the eternal wedding banquet鈥�. Serving others, he continued, comes at a cost: 鈥渋t involves spending ourselves, letting ourselves be consumed鈥�.

Oil must be prepared

Oil must be stored and prepared ahead of time, concluded the 杏MAP导航. So we too must prepare 鈥渞ight here and now鈥�. Those called to God鈥檚 wedding feast cannot be content with a 鈥渇lat and humdrum life that plods on without enthusiasm鈥�, he said. Such a dreary and predictable life that fails to give of itself, said pope Francis, 鈥渋s unworthy of the Bridegroom鈥�.