HOMILY: 11/12/17 + 32nd Sunday :
RDNGS: Wis 6:12-16; Ps 63:1; 1 Thes 4:13-18; Mt 25:1-13
Back in the 1940’s, when I was in grade school – 6th or 7th grade – our
family – father, mother, sister, brother and I – used to walk the five or
six blocks from our apartment in the Bronx … to Sacred Heart Church
every Sunday morning – just in time for the 10 o’clock Mass. “The Main
Mass!)
On one such occasion – as we were walking home – looking forward to
stopping at the German bakery to buy some seeded rolls and doughnuts, my
sister, Maureen, who is two years older than I am, out -of-the-blue, said,
“He didn’t even mention the bride.” And I said, “Who?” “The priest,” she
said. “He didn’t say anything about the bride.” So I said, “But he was
reading what Jesus had said in his parable. “But that’s what I’m saying,”
she said, “Even Jesus didn’t mention the bride.” And I said, “So what’s
the problem?” “Well,” she said, if you’re telling a story about a wedding,
I think you should mention the Bride … because, after all, she’s the
most important part of any wedding … without the bride, there can’t be
a wedding.” Of course, I added, “ Or, I could say, without the groom,
there can’t be any wedding.” 🙂
And now, over 70 years later, while my 87 year old sister is living
happily with Christine, her daughter, in Boston, and her five other
children and grandchildren are scattered around the country, her
observation about mentioning the bride always makes me ask and answer her
question, “Why didn’t Jesus mention the bride?”
The answer, of course, is found in THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:
(Under the heading,) “THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST” And then it says,
“The theme of Christ as Bridegroom of the Church was prepared for by the
prophets and announced by John the Baptist. The Lord referred to himself
as the “bridegroom.” The Apostle speaks of the whole Church and of each of
the faithful, members of his Body, as a bride “betrothed” to Christ the
Lord so as to become but one spirit with him. The Church is the spotless
bride of the spotless Lamb. “Christ loved the Church and gave himself up
for her, that he might sanctify her. He has joined her with himself in an
everlasting covenant and never stops caring for her as his own body.”
The Church is the gathering of all those preparing to depart in a joyous
procession, their oil lamps in their hands, to meet Christ, the
Bridegroom. Every liturgical celebration is like a dress rehearsal of the
great procession to the wedding hall. In any event, the Lord is already
here; he comes for his own to whom he manifests himself under the veil of
signs. (Bread and Wine) Even those who have preceded us in death also
prepare themselves. With us and like us, they wait in hope for the signal,
given by the archangel’s voice, which will cause the great doors of the
wedding hall to open wide.
So, my dear Maureen, it’s quite clear, isn’t it? Christ is the Bridegroom;
the Church is the Bride. BUT – WE ARE THE CHURCH, SOOOOOO, WE (ALL OF US
TOGETHER) ARE THE BRIDE“ WE – TOGETHER – are invited to the wedding.
Watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour of the Lord’s coming.”
The lesson is a moral one. But it results from faith in Jesus, who is, who
was, and who is to come, whom we have found, whose return we are
expecting. This faith is at the heart of the Church’s life. Our liturgy
reflects such a faith. We are the Bride of Christ!
(Q. Should I call Maureen and tell her?) 🙂
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