Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time [A]

Readings
Wisdom 6:12-16
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 or 4:13-14
Matthew 25:1-13

Calendar
November 8: Election Day in the US
November 11: Veterans Day in the USA

Quotes
At the center of all Catholic social teaching are the transcendence of God and the dignity of the human person. The human person is the clearest reflection of God's presence in the world; all of the Church's work in pursuit of both justice and peace is designed to protect and promote the dignity of every person. For each person not only reflects God, but is the expression of God's creative work and the meaning of Christ's redemptive ministry.
U.S. Catholic Bishops, The Challenge of Peace, #15

In the Hebrew Scriptures ruah's activities include creating new life, working to sustain it in myriad ways, renewing what has been damaged, grieving over destruction, teaching people to be wise, and inspiring critique and enthusiasm, all of which have engaged the energies of generation after generation of women.
Elizabeth Johnson CSJ, She Who Is, 83

The Synod Fathers stated: "As an expression of her mission the Church must stand firmly against all forms of discrimination and abuse of women"(178). And again: "The dignity of women, gravely wounded in public esteem, must be restored through effective respect for the rights of the human person and by putting the teaching of the Church into practice."
Pope John Paul II, Christifideles Laici, 49

Flagrant inequalities exist in the economic, cultural and political development of the nations: while some regions are heavily industrialized, others are still at the agricultural stage; while some countries enjoy prosperity, others are struggling against starvation; while some peoples have a high standard of culture, others are still engaged in eliminating illiteracy. From all sides there rises a yearning for more justice and a desire for a better guaranteed peace in mutual respect among individuals and peoples.
Pope Paul VI, Octogesima Adveniens, 2

Thoughts for Your Consideration
The first reading from the Book of Wisdom refers to God as wisdom and thus gives us a feminine word or image to talk about God. As we broaden our understanding of what God is all about, we expand our vision of what is important and valuable in the world. We come to see that all people, men and women, rich and poor, young and old, reflect the dignity of God and are made in the image and likeness of God. Divine wisdom challenges and inspires us to work for the human rights and dignity of all í¢â‚¬" especially those who have sometimes been placed on the margins by our cultures í¢â‚¬" the poor, children, women, minorities, etc.

Today's gospel parable reminds us not to just wait around doing nothing. If we want to enjoy the life God has given us and grow in the goodness of God, we should get into action and be ready. "We should have our lamps filled with oil."

Our lamps are ready when we wake up from sleep and engage in the problems of our world and its people, interact with people in need, dialogue on the important issues of the world, and get into action. Our lamps are ready when we broaden our understanding and are willing see the world as God sees the world -- when we come to see that all people, men and women, reflect the dignity of God and are made in the image and likeness of God. Our lamps are ready when we put this vision in practice.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group
In what ways do you find people in our culture asleep or inattentive to the important issues of the day?

In what ways do you find yourself asleep and inattentive to the realities of the world?

In what ways do you find yourself awake and attentive to the realities of the world?

Actions - Links
The first reading from the book of wisdom refers to God and Wisdom as feminine. God, of course, is neither male or female, however, this language challenges us to broaden our understanding of God. It also reminds us of our concern for the rights of all women and men in the world. To read more about the Center of Concern's Global Women's Project, which focuses on how women are particularly affected by issues of poverty, go to http://www.coc.org/bin/view.fpl/1112/cms_campaign/4.html

The Agribusiness Accountability Initiative Promotes Collaborative Responses to Corporate Power in the Global Food System. Co-sponsored by the Center of Concern and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, the Agribusiness Accountability Initiative is a growing international network of academics, activists and food system experts from farm, labor, environment, consumer, church and development organizations, who recognize that corporate concentration and vertical integration among transnational agro-food companies threaten the sustainability of the most important industry on earth í¢â‚¬" the global food system. http://www.agribusinessaccountability.org

Prayer - Meditation

Various local elections in the US take place this Tuesday. The following "Prayer at Election Time" is from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas at
http://www.sistersofmercy.org/justice/election_prayer.html:

Prayer at Election Time

Loving and gracious God, we remember that your plan for us is fullness of life lived with love, justice and mercy.

Be with us and our whole nation this year as we work together in selecting political leaders at all levels of our society. Help us keep the common good before us.

Strengthen our gifts of wisdom, courage and respect for the views of others.

Deepen in us the willingness to act in solidarity with people who are economically poor and with women seeking fullness of life in society.

Help us be persistent in testing political remedies against what they will do for people, to people, with people, and what they will mean for the health of our earth home.

Help us to support one another in exercising our precious responsibilities as citizens in a representative democracy.

After the elections, strengthen us to continue to work with our leaders, seeking an ever more just society that acts in harmony and interdependence with all creation.

We ask this in the name of Jesus in union with Your Spirit. Amen.