1 Thess 4:1-8 / Matthew 25:1-13
The flame of a candle does not burn by itself. The wax of the candle fuels the flame and hence the candle gives light.
Similarly for an oil lamp. The lamp does not burn on its own. It needs the oil to keep the flame burning.
These are just two examples of the fact that for something good to happen, something must be offered.
Or to put it in another way, in order to gain something good, something has to be given up.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul reminds us that what God wants is for us to be holy.
In order to be holy, we must give up our sins of the flesh as well as sins of the heart.
Just like the candle and the oil lamp that gives light because the wax and the oil is burnt up, we can only be holy when we give up our sins and let the God’s love burn it up.
In the gospel parable, Jesus reminds us to stay awake and to be alert, because the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to tempt and fall into sin.
Whenever we sin, let us quickly come back to Lord to ask for forgiveness.
When we keep giving up our sins and burning them up with God’s love and forgiveness, then we will also grow in holiness.