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The First reading today talks about wisdom? Wisdom is referred to as female. It also states that wisdom is found by those who seek her. First of all wisdom is not another person of God. There are only three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So, who is she?

We certainly are not searching for the wisdom from just any human being. 1 Cor 1:30 states: “It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God…” So, we are looking for the wisdom from God which comes from all three persons of God, but Jesus is scripturally and theologically identified as the very embodiment and personification of God’s wisdom. So why is wisdom referred to as female?

First we must clarify that God is not male or female. In the CCC 370 it states: “In no way is God in man’s image. He is neither man nor woman. God is pure spirit in which there is no place for the difference between the sexes.” The female reference to the word wisdom is a literary personification. When the Hebrew text was translated to Greek, wisdom is grammatically female and translates to the name “Sophia”. Sophia means wisdom. This resplendent wisdom, is not the wisdom of man but the wisdom of God that we seek through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Coming to know the wisdom of God should be a life long goal for all of us. This goal can only be achieved by us actively pursuing her. We must seek her to find her and in finding her come to know her. Matthew 7:7 states – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

We all seek many things in our life. Do you actively seek the wisdom of God? Do you seek it greater than you seek earthly things? You must first come to realize that you don’t have all the answers. We are not all knowing as God is. When we think we have all the answers, that is when wisdom eludes us. Psalm 62:2 states:  “My soul rests in God alone…” Only when we seek God’s wisdom by putting all our faith in Him do we find peace. Jesus guides us on this path through his teachings.

In the Gospel today ten virgins are referenced instead of just a few. In scripture the number ten represents completeness, the entirety of something. Therefore, ten virgins represents the entire Church. The entire Church is in wait for the return of the Bridegroom, Jesus’ second coming. The reality of those waiting is reflected in Mark 13:32-33 which states: “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.”

The virgins reality is our reality as well. We do not know the day or the hour of Christ’s second coming, but we also do not know the day or the hour of us being called home to the Lord. We were reminded of this last Monday with All Souls day and the altar of the deceased. Our time is typically less than 100 years in this earthly life. Psalm 90:12 states: “Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.”

That is at the center of the Gospel today. We must gain wisdom of heart. The oil in the lamps represents the love and desire one has for our Lord. Like the five virgins who did not have enough oil, they did not form a deep personal relationship with our Lord. They tried to leverage the five wise virgin’s relationship to help them gain access symbolized by asking for some of their oil. We cannot take or share someone else’s love of our Lord, we must nurture that for ourselves. This is why in the end of the parable when the virgins called out, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!” the Lord said: “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” The parable is telling us that we are personally responsible to be ready for when we are called home.

We must be always ready, that is the wisdom of this parable. It may not be what we feel is fair. Someone may feel that an all loving God should give us another chance to fix our relationship if we are not ready when He calls us home. But, if it is God’s will for us to be called home, there is no negotiation for additional time. We had our lifetime to foster that relationship. Ezekiel 18:25 states: “You say, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair!’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Are not your ways unfair?” God is always calling us to himself. Isn’t it fair to expect us to always be ready?

Asking for more time at the last moment of life is like someone saying I want to speed in my car so I need a radar detector to let me know when there is a police speed trap so I can slow down and not get a ticket. But, if you always did the speed limit you would have nothing to worry about. Which is fair?

If we are always living our lives as Christ has taught us we don’t need to know when we are to be called home, we will always be ready. There is wisdom in being ready, it gives us a sense of calmness. As we come to know the wisdom of God, and follow it, we truly have nothing to fear and peace will fill our lives knowing that our lives are always in the loving hands of