Then the Door Was Locked

Then the Door Was Locked

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.  The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

Then the door was locked. Afterward, the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”  Matthew 25:10C-13

Piety

"Oh, Master, make me chaste and celibate - but not yet!" (St. Augustine)

Study

The paradox is the cross is not something we contemplate with today’s readings.  It is foolishness we should carry daily.

If Christ were to see modern society, with silver and gold crosses around our necks, hanging from the rear-view mirror on our cars, He might scratch his Holy Head.  The cross was an instrument of torture.  He might be more at ease with the comment of the Catholic-Christian by poet-priest, the Reverend Dan Berrigan:  "If you are going to follow Jesus, you better look good on wood." (Apr 30, 2016)

That is the challenge that we get from Paul’s letter to the people in Corinth and from Matthew's good news.  The challenge is to pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus.  Not to follow Tiffany and Company, maker of silver crosses.  Not to follow Wall Street on the way to dividends and wealth.  Not to follow Ford on the path to a shiny new F-150.  But to get splinters in our hands and scrape our knees while falling to the pavement with the weight of a cross on our shoulders. 

These readings may especially ring true today as we remember Augustine of Hippo.  He is the patron of brewers perhaps because of his conversion from a comfortable life of loose living.  He reveled in parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. However, his complete conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.

Action

Are you like me -- sometimes (more so these days) finding it difficult to get too close to Jesus’ cross?  As we are locked down, is it as easy to turn on Netflix than to live stream Sunday Mass? Do the man-made arguments of organized religion counting the number of angels dancing on the head of a pin get in the way?  Do you find it uncomfortable getting out of your comfort zone to carry your cross, let alone helping others carry theirs?  This is the tough, paradoxical stuff that the Gospel addresses.  of faith. However, it’s also the heart of faith that Jesus asks of us. 

Are we prepared for His return? Or are we squandering our gifts and wasting our time?  But true discipleship is a gift that will bring us ultimate joy.  Ah, but it is not free.  There is a cost.