Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
I have previously wondered about the seeming selfishness of the five wise virgins in today’s parable from Matthew’s gospel. Perhaps I could relate to the five foolish virgins and have been uncomfortable with the wise ones not sharing their oil when the others’ had run out. It’s an awful feeling to realize that the guest you’ve been eagerly awaiting, whose plane or train had been delayed longer than anticipated, has now arrived and is expecting you to pick them up at the airport or train station, only to discover that you forgot to fill the car with gas...and now all the gas stations are likely closed at this time of night. And when you ask your (wise) neighbor, the one who is always prepared, if you can borrow some gasoline, she says, “Sorry, but I won’t be able to make it to my destination if I share some with you.” And you are left unprepared, ashamed, and on your own. (At least that’s what comes to mind for me as I reflect on this parable about the Kingdom of God.)
The interesting thing for me about this parable is that all ten of the virgins had good intentions. All ten initially “took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” And all ten became drowsy and fell asleep when he was “long delayed.” The difference is in which ones were prepared, having brought extra oil with them. But I don’t think this is about only the best planners and organizers gaining entrance into the Kingdom (thank God!). Although it is about being prepared. Matthew’s gospel indicates it’s about being prepared for Jesus’ second coming. And perhaps it’s also about being prepared for meeting the bridegroom, Jesus, face to face whenever that may be, for we “know neither the day nor the hour” of even our own death.
Am I ready? Do I have enough oil? What is the oil that I need to be ready? Faith? Prayer? Treating with compassion the “least of these” as if it were Jesus himself, which we read about later in this chapter? None of this can we “borrow” from our wise neighbor. Apparently, good intentions are not enough to prepare our hearts and souls for meeting the bridegroom (but didn’t we already know that?). Let us pray for the conviction and grace to act on that which we’re called to, so that whenever that day or hour arrives we will be ready with plenty of oil for our lamp to burn brightly and greet him when he comes to welcome us into the feast.
~Eileen Miller