A homily on Matthew 25:1-13 : Trimming the Lamps of Our Hearts ( 29-8-25)

 A homily on Matthew 25:1-13 using the simple story of a honey bee, showing how trimming is needed through confession, penance, and daily faithfulness (29-8-25)

Praise  be to Jesus Christ 

There was a man whose main source of income was from honeybees. He cared for his bees with great patience. Very often, he would open the wooden hive and, with a small knife, scrape away the extra wax and dirt that the bees had left inside. Someone asked him, “Why do you cut away what the bees have built with such hard work?” The man replied, “If I do not clear it, the hive will be blocked, the bees will not be healthy, and even the honey will lose its taste. When I trim it, the hive remains clean, and the honey becomes sweet.”

This is what Jesus teaches us in today’s Gospel (Matthew 25:1–13). When the cry was heard, “Here is the bridegroom,” the virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.  What does this trim mean? To trim simply means to cut away. To cut away what is not needed and what makes the flame weak or smoky. Just as the beekeeper trims the hive so the honey stays pure, we too must trim our hearts and lives so that our love remains fresh and true.

Today, we celebrate the memory of the beheading of John the Baptist. A man allowed God to trim his life completely. He cut away pride, fear, and comfort, and he kept only truth and faithfulness. Because of this, his life was like sweet honey to God, even though it ended in suffering. His light was clear, his witness was strong.

The Old Testament shows us the same lesson. Abraham was asked to leave behind his land and family (Genesis 12:1). That was a trimming of security, but it made his faith shine brighter. Joseph in Egypt said no to the false love of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:9). He trimmed away sin, and his soul remained pure. Daniel listened to the cry of Susanna (Daniel 13:45–47 ), and cut away the lies of the wicked, and defended her with truth. Each of them allowed God to shape them, but they also chose to cut away what was wrong.

In our daily life too, trimming is needed. In the family, we may need to cut away anger, harsh words, and selfishness so that peace can stay.  However, this trimming is not done by God alone. Everyone must take effort.

Think of a village well. If no one cleans it, weeds grow around, mud gathers inside, and the water becomes dirty. But when it is cleaned regularly, the water stays fresh. Confession is like that. By examining our conscience regularly and confessing our sins and doing personal penance we trim away the dirt of sin that blocks the grace of God. Penance may sting like the beekeeper’s knife, but without it, our soul cannot stay healthy.

Saint John Vianney used to say that confession is the bath of the soul. In our day today lives none of us would keep wearing dirty clothes without washing, in the same way we cannot allow sins to remain without trimming them away. Through confession, the wick of our soul is trimmed, and the flame burns bright again.

A wise saying tells us, “It is not by adding more, but by removing what is useless, that life becomes full.” The same is true with faith. If we do not trim, our lamps smoke and our honey turns bitter. If we do trim, our flame shines bright and our heart becomes sweet to God.

So let us ask: Do we take time to trim our lives? Or are we letting our souls grow heavy and blocked? The Bridegroom is coming. He wants to see a lamp clear and steady, and a heart that is pure and sweet.

 Lord, help me to trim my life each day. Amen.

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