Mathew 25: 1-13 (Friday, August 31, 2007)

For some of us, our greatest sin is that of procrastination. We can never get anything done on time. We keep putting things off. A few years ago, I learnt a principle which I truly try to keep. It is a very simple principle, “if you can do it now, why keep it for later.” I always try to keep this in mind as I joggle through my daily commitments. I have discovered that this helps me to accomplish on time all that I need to. We do not want to be like St. Augustine who prayed, “Lord give me chastity, but not now.” If you are in a serious sin, you do not want to wait till the Lenten penance service to confess it. You want to take care of it immediately and keep moving with your spiritual life. The parable of today’s gospel emphasizes the consequences of waiting till the last minute to do things. Many a student had failing grades in school because they waited till the last moment to do their homework only to discover that the computer crashed the previous night and so they couldn’t turn in their work when it was due.

Do not wait till the last minute in order to work out your relationship with Jesus, you may never have the opportunity. We do not know the time or the hour. If you do not have that opportunity, you also would not be able to borrow the relationship your parents or grandparents have with Jesus. You need your own personal relationship with Jesus. Again, let us prepare ourselves, so that when Jesus comes, he will find us ready to join him in the marriage feast in heaven.

Prayer:
Take away from us the spirit of procrastination and empower us to prepare ourselves so that we will be ready when you come to take us. May each day of our lives draw us closer to you, that we might know your will for our lives and follow it.