Those Who Were Ready

August 31, 2007

Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7

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. Matthew 25:10

Piety

Let us pray: Lord, please don’t lock us out. You have called us to piety, study and action. Through these pursuits, we seek to come to you and dwell in your house forever. If we can’t live there with you, then we at least want to visit. If we can’t visit, then let us look in through the windows and see your face. If the curtains are closed, let us touch your door because we know if we knock in prayer, then the door will be answered. Make us worthy to enter by strengthening our faith in You, our hope for God’s Kingdom and our love for our sisters and brothers. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/083107.shtml

How much “oil” is in your “lamp?”

What are you going off to buy?

The notes to this chapter in the N.A.B. suggest that our actions or good deeds are signified by the reference to oil in the lamps. Those who have lived a life filled with action/deeds consistent with what the Lord asks of us are the ones who will be ready when “the bridegroom” comes. This follows from earlier in Matthew when the Lord said, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them” will be saved.

It does not matter what your New Year’s Resolution was or whether you stuck with it. Our lives must be filled with right actions and right relationships now and in the future. Don’t wait until January 1, no matter what we have done in the past, today is not too late to make your plan to start September 1.

Action

How and where you spend you money matters. Do you remember the Ideal talk from your weekend? How did the speaker get you to assess how you use your time, your talents and your treasures?

Have you begun to buy “fair trade” products? Buying certified products makes good social, economic and ecological sense. It cuts out intermediary buyers and guarantees small farmers and families a fair price that exceeds their production costs. It also helps protect the environment.

You can’t abandon everything but what if you tried to shift the purchase of 5 percent of the products you purchase next month to fair trade products. You could shift where you get your coffee, tea or chocolate. To begin to research what fair trade products are available, visit this site: http://www.buyerbefair.org/find_products.html

Take small steps to start. Learn what you can. Visit the “Sustainability School” section of the fair trade coffee website organized by Larry’s Beans: http://www.larrysbeans.com/index.php?page=sustainability-school