As Catholics, we believe that Christ died to save us all. How convenient, right? Just by being a Christian and a believer in Christ, one is forgiven and saved? Really?

To be saved, one must be a real Christian, a real follower of Christ.. This means that one has to follow his commandments and teachings as closely as one can. But we can be like the careless bridesmaids in today’s parable and be relaxed and complacent about our living out of our Christian obligations and commitments. Why not enjoy life now and perhaps at our later years begin to worry about our Christian living? Anyway Christ did die to save us all.

This is simple arrogance if we lived and behaved this way. We cannot shut out the possibility that at any time we could die and have to make an accounting before our good God and Judge. Like the bridesmaids for the wedding, we could be summoned at any time to face God’s judgment. So as Jesus said so clearly in the Gospel reading, “So stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

Will we be ready when God calls or would we be away unprepared and have the doors to the heavenly banquet shut against us?