Keeping Our Lamps Burning: Finding Wisdom in Everyday Life
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – November 8, 2026
In April 1988, experienced skydiver and aerial photographer Ivan McGuire jumped from a plane at 10,500 feet, intent on filming a group of student skydivers. Focused on preparing camera angles, lighting, and getting the perfect footage, he forgot one crucial thing: his parachute. The video was excellent. The landing was not.
Ivan wasn’t a bad person: he was a busy and distracted person. Perhaps that affects many of us today? The foolish bridesmaids had lamps, wedding clothes, and enthusiasm. But they forgot the one thing that mattered: the “oil”. In our Christian lives, that “oil” is the inner life that keeps our faith burning when boredom or challenges come.
We show up. We meet our commitments. We do what is expected of us. Yet sometimes we still feel empty. Why? Because activity is not the same as purpose, and routine is not the same as Wisdom. Perhaps 90% of life is routine but the other 10% is what makes the routine in our lives, come alive in a more meaningful way. What is that 10%? What is that “oil”?
Our First Reading captures the sense that there is something vital for us that is unseeable: “Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them. Watch for her early and you will have no trouble.”
The wise bridesmaids were not simply organised. They recognised that some things cannot be postponed until the last minute. A relationship with God must be nurtured beforehand: that is Christian Wisdom or spiritual readiness.
We live out Christian Wisdom as love and compassion for others; mixed with a dash of pride in ourselves: we do not want to be a burden on others. Almost all mothers exhaust themselves looking after their children. But usually, though often tired, our mums are deeply happy. Wisdom transforms tiredness into love.
Each of us remembers teachers who went beyond what was required. Their work was demanding and often thankless, yet seeing their students flourish made the sacrifice worthwhile. Wisdom transforms duty into love.
Of course, there is a balance we need to learn: we can worry so much about tomorrow and the next day that we fail to enjoy the present! This danger can be easily overcome by organising our lives as a community and a family.
As the liturgical year draws to a close, the Readings focus on eschatology (the end times and the second coming of Christ). Our readings today highlight the need for spiritual readiness. Which we should not see as something external to our daily work lives. We spend about 40% of our day working: it cannot be something external to that which occupies us so much.
We cannot survive on borrowed faith, nor buy it! The wise bridesmaids said, “No, for there may not be enough for us and you.” Is it selfish? …in the Christian life some things cannot be borrowed! We cannot borrow someone else’s prayer life. We cannot inherit another person’s holiness. Our parents, teachers, religious communities, and friends can inspire us, but each of us must bring our own ‘oil’. Each of us must cultivate our own relationship with Christ.
Wisdom must be searched for. God is waiting for us if we are keen to look: Wisdom “is easily found by those who actively look for her.” The Gospel reminds us that Wisdom is rarely dramatic. It’s found in ordinary faithfulness: prayer when tired, kindness when impatient, perseverance when no one notices. The “oil” in our lamp is created one small act at a time.
Carrying “oil” would seem to many of us just plain common sense! Therefore, stop thinking of high-level strategies and amazing mystical experiences as the pathway to finding Wisdom. As Jesus said, “those who can be trusted in small things will be trusted in big things.”
Likewise, the Wisdom spoken of in the First Reading is revealed in the Gospel as being “ready” for Christ in the ordinary, daily things of life: God is part of the boring and difficult parts of daily life as well as the wonderful times of success and joy: small things lead to big things.
The Gospel emphasises that all ten bridesmaids grew drowsy and fell asleep because the bridegroom was delayed. But the wise prepared for the delay. Spiritual exhaustion is also real for us in marriage, religious life, youth ministry, or even daily life. We overcome it through active charity, prayer and staying connected to a good community.
Most of us have experienced that sinking feeling when our phone battery drops to 2% and there is no charger nearby. We immediately think, I should have charged it earlier! Jesus asks a similar question today: what is the charge level of your spiritual battery?
The good news is that today, there is still the time to prepare. Today there is still time to pray, to love, to forgive, to help others, and to deepen our friendship with Jesus Christ. The wise bridesmaids did not wait until midnight to find “oil”, and neither should we!
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Warren Buffett
By Gerard Conlan, OMI