32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 12

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The Old Testament talks a lot about Wisdom. A whole section of the Bible is referred to as Wisdom literature. But it’s not exactly what we usually mean by wisdom.
Wisdom is part of God’s very nature, almost to the point that Wisdom takes on personlike qualities. We can understand why the New Testament applies the description of Wisdom to the Holy Spirit in the Blessed Trinity.
Our first reading speaks about Wisdom as an introduction to the gospel parable. The bridesmaids in the parable stand vigil waiting patiently for the appearance of Wisdom. Wisdom is always identified as feminine, so it is appropriate that the ten virgins are especially eager for her arrival. This kind of biblical imagery may be a reach for us to grasp, but it has a long and rich tradition in the poetry of the bible.
—Walter Modrys SJ

This week’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.