Did your Father holler this as he waved goodbye on the driveway? Mine did. I can see him waving with one hand and holding mom’s hand with the other. He would holler ‘Check the oil’ as I pulled away – to high school, to Texas A&M, to Wendy’s for my summer job, and with my children when we moved to Arizona. I can see him smiling, waiting for my mom to jokingly punch him in the side. An endearing repetition of his hopes that I practice diligence, responsibility, and consistency in even the most familiar of tasks.

The Holy Spirit has thrown open the doors of the Church.

Facebook posts are asking where they can find a good Church. Text messages are asking if we can meet them outside and sit with them. Instagram posts are full of confessions that Bibles are being dusted off. And now, the Church is filled with brothers and sisters that are looking for salt and light.

Are we ready? Are we prepared for the unexpected? As in the parable of the virgins and the lamps, are we ready with the jars of oil? How many times did we assume it was all about us – our death – the end of our life – not thinking about anyone but ourselves?

Matthew 25

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Last week, the world took a collective breath and was left disoriented. Stunned.

We walked into Church on September 14th, 2025.

The gospel reading was John 3:13-17.

“At that time: Jesus said to Nicodemus, “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

The most recognizable verse in the world washed over the congregation, reminding everyone that they are welcome. A verse set in the rhythm of the lectionary in 1970. A verse worn on the face of athletes. The verse of Salvation. Salvation for everyone.

The feast day was The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

“Being Christian”, Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event”.

“How precious the gift of the cross, how splendid to contemplate! In the cross there is no mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise: it is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste. The fruit of this tree is not death but life, not darkness but light. This tree does not cast us out of paradise, but opens the way for our return.” – St. Theodore the Studite

The most recognizable symbol in the Church, remembered. The True Cross, found on pilgrimage by Saint Helena. A flash of light and a sweet smell encouraged her to dig. The True Cross, hidden in a ditch and covered by a pagan temple was found and venerated for the first time on September 14, 335 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. People were healed, just by touching the True Cross.

The Holy Spirit is moving in people’s hearts. Are we standing ready with lamps full to welcome them in?

Will you join me?

• Get your lamps ready.
• Stay grounded in scripture.
• Let your words be kind and gentle.
• Make it easy for someone to understand and join in what is happening during Mass. 
• Smile.

Our Heavenly Father is calling our brothers and sisters home to the Church. Set up the field hospital for all the wounded and weary. Get the triage in order.

And for goodness sake, check the oil!