When the Clock Strikes Zero

Deacon Tom Writes,

"When the Clock Strikes Zero”

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Science is shedding remarkable light about the cosmos in which we live. The Hubbell telescope gives us fantastic images of worlds, stars, and galaxies hundred of million, even billions of light years away, images of universes and suns being born and dying. Scientists tell us that our solar system had a beginning and one day our sun will become a super nova that will consume our planet and the others in our universe as well.

That big picture, that notion that all existence is limited and finite escapes us for the most part as we go about our daily lives. Sure, we may see NOVA or a science fiction movie that explores the theme of a “countdown clock”. But the thought that the days of our lives and those of our loved ones and friends are finite is something that, sadly, doesn’t change our behavior very much.

There is a commercial on TV that pictures men and women carrying an eight-foot long check written out various amounts, usually in the millions. In each case the number represents how much money they will need to enjoy retirement. The commercial is presented by the financial service firm eager to help them reach that retirement savings goal. This is a great marking message to encourage those watching to save for your retirement. 

How about a commercial like this? The Ad scans people walking alone a busy street, shopping, running for a taxi, jogging in the park, sitting at their desk at work or school. And, on their shoulder is a digital countdown clock revealing how many seconds they had remaining in this life. A person then asks, “And what are you doing with the time you have left?”

I think the Ad Execs would consider a commercial of this nature to be too dark a message for us to handle. And it would be if, shown with the frequency Ads get on TV! But, what a provocative message that enables us to connect with the story of the ten virgins in today’s gospel, “Are we prepared for when the clock strikes zero?”

You see, our reading from the Book of Wisdom is our guide on how to prepare ourselves for that last moment when the clock strikes zero so that we can experience the best possible life for all the joys God desires us to enjoy on this side of paradise. By loving wisdom, by keeping vigil with her she will lead us to the object of her and our desire, “O Lord our God”, the bridegroom for whom we keep vigil, and from whom nothing can detract us, the one for whom “our soul is thirsting”.

We have incredible opportunity to accomplish so much good each and every day with Wisdom to guide us and prepare us for when our clock strikes zero.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image credit: 300 × 300 - pastormikelandry.wordpress.com