My Lamp of Faith, Full or Empty?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 21st Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Matthew 25:1-13*

*First Reading : 1 Thes 4:1-8*

*My Lamp of Faith, Full or Empty?*

*1) The Lamp in the Marriage celebration*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the Lamp, in the celebration of the Marriage 

It is obvious why the Lamp is needed for the Marriage celebration. It is for the Light 

*2) Two categories of Lamps with Two types of people*

The Gospel makes it very clear that, there are two categories of Lamps 

First category of lamps consists of Oil in thr lamps  

The second category of Lamps have already run out off the oil. Therefore they are lamps without oil 

People with Lamps along with oil are considered wise, whereas people with lamps with out oil are considered as foolish 

*3) The Lamp of Faith*

Every Christian is given this lamp at the time of Baptism, with full oil. 

Over the years this lamp has burned and given us the bright light to live our life 

At the same time we had the great responsibility of filling this lamp with oil for its continuous burning 

So we need to check whether my lamp of faith has ran out off oil or it is full or it is half 

*4) Burning of the lamp is very important to get in*

With out this burning of the lamp one is unable to enter into the marriage banquet

Burning of the lamps also speaks about the alertness, preparedness, ready and carefully waiting to enter in 

In the parable those virgins who were ready were able to enter others could not 

Unless we keep our faith lamp burning we can't enter into heaven 

*5) My lamp with oil is very important*

There were five  lamps which were burning. But it didn't help them to get in. 

So my lamp with oil, which keeps burning is very important. 

I can't depend on some one else's lamp to get into heaven 

*6) The lamp of faith needs the following*

The oil of service 

The oil of truth 

The oil of simplicity 

The oil of love 

The oil of humility

The oil of sacrifice

The oil of generosity

The oil of forgiveness

The oil of concern 

The oil of prayer 

The oil of peace 

The oil of discipline

The oil of harwork 

The oil of trust 

The oil of faithfulness

The oil of understanding

*Is my lamp of faith is full or empty?*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*