Today’s first reading personifies Wisdom as a woman who is sought by those who love her.

In fact, if we pay careful attention to this text, there’s a lot of reference to seeking. Perhaps the question that we might ask is, who is doing the seeking? At first glace, it seems like people are the ones seeking after wisdom. And yet, Wisdom is described as a gracious woman who hastens to make herself known and who sits by the gate of those who seek her. The passage even says that Wisdom herself makes her rounds, seeking those worthy of her, appearing to them on their way and meeting them with all solicitude. 

It would seem, then, that Wisdom is not only sought; she is also the one who seeks. The mystery revealed here is that our search for Wisdom, for God, is always a response to God’s prior search for us. Because he draws near, we can seek him; because he seeks us, our seeking is never in vain. 

And yet, we must search. As we turn to the Gospel, we hear a parable about five wise virgins who prepare themselves, watching for the bridegroom’s return. In a word, they are seeking the bridegroom. These virgins are the ones who diligently prepare their lamps and, when the bridegroom returns, are ushered into the wedding feast with him. In contrast, the five foolish virgins become drowsy and fall asleep, and are caught unprepared when the bridegroom returns. To them, the bridegroom says, Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.

With these two readings, the Church is inviting us to consider the necessity that we, too, actively seek the Lord. This requires a conscious response from us; it is not passive. We must desire a relationship with Christ and actively seek him by preparing our hearts for his coming.

When we are seeking something we really desire, our hearts experience longing. One sign that our spiritual life needs renewal, that our “oil” has run out, is when our desire for the Lord has grown weak or dormant. Today’s psalm invites us to take as our own the words of King David: O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. If we find ourselves in a place where our thirst for earthly things is greater than the Lord, then we must ask him to awaken us from our spiritual slumber, that he may give us the grace to rekindle in us the flame that burns for love of him. 

The good news is that our God doesn’t play “hard to get.” Just as Lady Wisdom in our first reading draws near to those who seek her, the Lord comes to us in the Eucharist, drawing near to all who seek him with sincerity and faith. And all who sincerely seek the Lord will find a place at his heavenly banquet.

Fr Michał Pająk, OMI
Nov. 8, 2026