Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sr. Barbara Barry, SNDdeN Matthew 25: 1-13 Today’s gospel comes from a section of Matthew’s gospel called The Sermon on the End. It seems to be for the disciples and not the random crowds that follow Jesus. The disciples are trying to put all the pieces together. This man, Jesus, challenges many of the practices of the Jewish faith in his day. He emphasizes the messages of the prophets and yet he doesn’t seem to be the political “savior” that many were expecting. He preaches a kingdom of love, compassion and peace. At the same time Jesus is realistic about the human condition and nature. There are wars among nations and natural disasters that cause death and destruction. And there are women and men who choose God’s ways and those who don’t. Perhaps the greatest gift we have as human beings is free will. God’s desire for us is to live in peace, to be compassionate toward one another, and to have life in abundance. This way of life is not forced upon us. It is a choice. Today’s parable tells us of ten virgins, some who listen to the Word and live […]