The early Christians thought that all their questions about death had been answered with the resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, when loyal Christians began to die, not only did their old questions come back, but also they were plagued with new and difficult ones. Was it possible that those loyal Christians had not been loyal after all? Or worse, were the promises made by Jesus empty promises? No! Paul assures us. It is all true. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again, and all the faithful will be joined with him. How it will happen, we do not know. When it will happen, we do not know. That it will happen, we are sure.
The wisdom that we have culled from life becomes the treasury from which we draw the prudence and insight needed to negotiate life’s paradoxes. It throws light on our strengths and on our weaknesses; it enables us to discern what is important and what is not; it directs us to bring extra oil in our lamps. Life and the wisdom that we have acquired through it, have taught us that we can indeed trust the promises of God. They have been fulfilled in the past, and wisdom assures us that they will be fulfilled in the future. It is wisdom that cautions us to be vigilant, to be ready to adjust our plans. It is wisdom that prepares us for the night watches of life. It is wisdom that instructs us to be ready at all times.
© Dianne Bergant CSA, https://www.liturgyhelp.com/calendar/date/2026Nov08/0/RefDiBer