Brief Background: 

St. Augustine (354–430) was born in North Africa and spent much of his early life searching for truth and meaning. After years away from Christianity, and through the persistent prayers of his mother, St. Monica, he experienced a profound conversion. He was baptized by St. Ambrose, later became a priest and then Bishop of Hippo, and became one of the most influential theologians in the history of the Church. His best-known works include Confessions and The City of God.

Patron Saint of: theologians, printers, brewers, and those seeking conversion or struggling with their faith.

REFLECTION:

Have we ever borrowed something from our neighbors, friends, relatives, or coworkers? Maybe a tool, a book, a charger, a container—or even some money. But here is the more important question: Did we ever return it?

Sometimes we borrow something, put it aside, and completely forget about it. Then six months later we see it in our house and think, “Oh, that's mine.” No, it's not! You've just had it so long that you've convinced yourself it belongs to you. Maybe today's Gospel is already calling some of us to conversion: go home and return what you borrowed!

There are many things we can borrow from another person. But today's Gospel reminds us that there is one thing we cannot borrow: someone else's faith.

Jesus tells us about ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five brought enough oil for their lamps, and five did not. When the bridegroom arrived, those who were unprepared asked the others, “Give us some of your oil.”

At first, we might think, “Come on! Just share a little oil!” But Jesus is making a deeper point. Some things cannot be borrowed at the last minute. A relationship with God is one of them. And this connects beautifully with St. Augustine.

Augustine had one of the greatest examples of faith right beside him—his mother, St. Monica. She prayed for him for years. She cried for him. She worried about him. She never gave up on him. If anyone could have said, “Don't worry, my mom has enough faith for both of us,” it probably would have been Augustine! But Monica could not give Augustine her oil.

She could pray for him. She could encourage him. She could point him toward Christ. But eventually Augustine had to respond to God himself. Augustine would later say, “God created us without us: but he did not will to save us without us.”

That is important for us as parishioners, parents, grandparents, teachers, and school staff.

We can bring our children to Mass. We can teach our students how to pray. We can send them to Catholic school. We can give them retreats, religion classes, school Masses, and opportunities to serve. All of that matters. We can show them where to find the oil—but eventually they have to fill their own lamp. And the same is true for us.

We cannot simply say, “My parents were very Catholic,” or “I went to Catholic school,” or “I work for a Catholic school,” or even, “I go to Mass every Sunday.” Those things can help form our faith, but the deeper question is: Do I personally know Christ?

St. Paul tells us today, “We proclaim Christ crucified.” At the center of our faith is not simply a tradition, an institution, or something we inherited. At the center is Jesus Christ.

So maybe today's question is not simply, “Do I have oil in my lamp?” Perhaps the better question is: “Whose oil am I carrying?” Is my faith truly mine? Am I building my own relationship with Christ? Or am I still depending upon the faith of someone else?

St. Monica could pray for Augustine. She could lead him toward Christ. But eventually Augustine had to say his own yes. And so do we.

You can borrow many things in life. Just remember to return them. But you cannot borrow someone else's faith. Eventually, the faith has to become your own.