KEEP YOUR LAMPS BURNING – BE PREPARED TO MEET THE LORD
32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A, AT HOLY INFANT JESUS PARISH, IDDO, ABUJA, 8TH NOVEMBER 2026. HOMILY BY ARCHBISHOP IGNATIUS. A. KAIGAMA
READINGS: WISDOM 6: 12-16; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18; MATTHEW 25:1-13
THEME: KEEP YOUR LAMPS BURNING – BE PREPARED TO MEET THE LORD
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I thank your parish priest, Fr. Anthony Wulfu, the Parish Council, the Catechists, and the various Church societies, for the spiritual and pastoral work you all are doing here, even as the times are difficult. I have come to encourage you to continue to cooperate with one another so that your parish will keep waxing stronger and your faith growing deeper. I am very glad to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation to 127 candidates in your Holy Infant Jesus Parish, Iddo.
The readings of today remind us of one important truth: Our life on earth will not last forever, and we must always be prepared to meet God.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us the story of ten young women who went out with their lamps to welcome the bridegroom. Five were wise, because they carried extra oil, while the other five were foolish, because they did not prepare for the possibility that the bridegroom might delay. Unfortunately, the bridegroom arrived at midnight. The foolish ones had run out of oil, and while they went to buy some, the bridegroom arrived. The door was shut, and they missed the celebration.
My brothers and sister, there is a simple lesson here: it is not enough to start well; we must also be prepared to finish well. Think about a farmer who goes to his farm. He does not plant his crops and expect to harvest immediately. He knows that the rains may delay, weeds may grow, and pests may attack his crops. Therefore, he must continue to work, protect his farm and wait patiently for the harvest. In the same way, our Christian life requires constant attention. We cannot receive baptism, attend church occasionally and then forget God in our daily lives. We must keep our faith alive.
The oil in our lamps represents our faith, prayer, love, good works and commitment to God. We must never allow our oil to finish.
Sometimes, life becomes difficult. We pray, but our prayers seem unanswered. We work hard, but things do not improve. We experience sickness, poverty, disappointment and even the death of our loved ones. At such moments, we may begin to wonder whether God has forgotten us. But today’s second reading gives us hope. St. Paul assures us that death is not the end for those who believe in Christ. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that God will also raise those who have died in Him.
Therefore, my people, do not lose hope. God’s apparent delay does not mean that He has abandoned you. Keep praying, keep trusting and keep doing good. Sometimes, the blessing we are waiting for may come when we least expect it. But there is another important lesson: we must not postpone doing what is right. Some people say, “When I become rich, I will help the poor. When I grow old, I will become serious with God. When I have time, I will begin to pray.” My brothers and sisters, who has promised us tomorrow? If you have offended someone, reconcile with that person today. If you have been cheating your neighbour, stop today. If you have abandoned prayer, return to God today. If you have refused to forgive someone, let go of that bitterness today.
Our Christian faith must be seen in our daily lives. The farmer who refuses to cheat his neighbour in the market, the trader who uses honest measurements, the husband who remains faithful to his wife, the wife who cares for her family, the young person who respects elders and avoids bad company, and the person who helps a neighbour in need are all keeping their lamps burning. Even in our community, we must reject fighting, hatred, jealousy, dishonesty and division. Let us learn to help one another, care for the poor and live peacefully. We cannot claim to be prepared for heaven while refusing to show love to the people around us.
As we look towards the coming elections in 2027, let us also be wise. Do not sell your conscience for money, food or temporary gifts. Do not allow politicians to use you to cause violence or hatred. Choose leaders who respect human dignity and genuinely seek the good of people. Remember, a little money received today cannot replace the future of our children and community.
Finally, my dear brothers and sisters, we do not know the day or the hour when the Lord will call us. What matters is that whenever He comes, He should find us ready.
Let us therefore ask ourselves three questions: Is my lamp still burning? Is there enough oil in it? Am I living in such a way that I can confidently meet my Lord?
We cannot keep our lamps burning by our strength alone. We need God’s grace, which we receive through prayer, the Word of God, and the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. May this Eucharist strengthen our faith, increase our love and give us the wisdom to live each day in readiness for eternity.
May Mary, our Mother, intercede for us, so that when Christ, the Bridegroom, comes, none of us will be found unprepared. Amen.
