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November 12, 2023: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
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Prudence. One of the four cardinal virtues. Along with justice, temperance, and fortitude (courage). According to the late, great philosopher Aristotle, these virtues are the bedrock that leads to happiness. Authentic happiness, of course, and not some of the false happiness presently lived in the circles of money, materialism, and bodily wants and expressions.
Prudence as a Christian virtue is the use of right reason in the realm of decision-making. That we possess the ability – intellectual ability – to see what stands before us, discerning what is good or evil, with the prudence and fortitude to choose the good. Not only for present authentic happiness, but for the more important eternal happiness.
In the Book of Wisdom today, & also the Gospel, the virtue of prudence is also used in the realm of keeping vigil. Is it not best for us to always be on our spiritual toes, even when sleeping? Those five unwise virgins in the parable our Lord teaches, they all fell asleep. Which is fine. We all need our sleep. Even the five wise virgins slept as they awaited their Master’s return. But the difference between the five unwise virgins and the five wise and prudent virgins, was that the not-so-wise virgins kept burning their oil when they didn’t need to keep burning their oil. They wasted their oil when they closed their eyes for slumber. Whereas, the wise virgins shut down their oil before calling it a night. So when the Master returned, they had more than enough oil for their lamps at midnight to go out and meet the Master. Which is far better than walking in the darkness of this world.
This is prudence. To use right reason, reason that is not clouded or muddied. Reason that has foresight, possessing a vision to see what’s coming for us down the road on this pilgrim journey, and to make choices that benefit the future resurrection of our bodies.
We do need reminder of the reason why prudence as a Christian virtue is worth the effort throughout the whole of our lives. St. Paul reminds us. To possess right reason for the purpose of choosing good or evil, we choose the good because we have hope. The hope of God’s eternal gift.
The Christians in Thessalonica are struggling with the grave issue of death, as we do. And loved ones dying; and what happens when they die. Are they dead forever, or do they go where Jesus is. Paul writes to them that they are not to grieve like the rest, meaning, the rest of the pagan world who live with no hope.
It is not prudent to live like we have no hope. St. Paul teaches them the beautiful truth of living in hope. He teaches us that Christians have hope. The hope and truth that Jesus will bring to himself those who have fallen asleep, one day smashing their graves and opening them, while those still living will “meet him in the clouds.” I assume carried up by angels, and not an airplane, a helicopter, or hot air balloon.
Here’s the difference between five wise Christians and five unwise ones.
The five wise disciples of Jesus understood their Master to be returning one day. They did not lose their hope he would show up and bring them home. They kept enough oil in the tank so their faith in God would not run dry. They were prudent in knowing where to use it, and where not to. What to embrace, and what to avoid with prudence. This is who we’re meant to be.
For the five unwise Christians, all their oil dripped from the lamps of their hearts. They used it foolishly, because they lost their hope when the Master did not return in a short span of time. They acted like he was still in the grave, rather than risen. They fell asleep physically and spiritually.
They made some wrong choices with their oil, adversely affecting their true faith in God. They lived for the world, seeking happiness in this life, with less concern for eternal happiness. Such a person lacks prudence. And where there’s a lack of prudence, there’s no hope.
We make good choices now because we live in the hope of God’s promises. Promises that carry us into the next life, where lasting peace and happiness are realized.