Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids [November 6, 2011]

The Sunday Gospel [November 6, 2011]

Matthew 15:1-13

1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, 4but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 5Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 10While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. 11Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 12But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Reflection

“Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” ~ Jesus in v. 13

Jesus, always attentive to the customs of his people, also uses the wedding celebration to teach an important lesson about the kingdom of God. The groom’s coming may be delayed and those who wait can fall asleep. Here Jesus draws the need to be “wise” and ever watchful.

Jesus underlines the symbolism of “being asleep” and staying awake. This is not to be taken literally, for in the parable all the girls become drowsy and fall asleep. “Sleep” here means spiritual unpreparedness, coldness, even death. When a person no longer cares for spiritual values, when he no longer respects God and men, he is spiritually asleep. This is what being “foolish” also means.

One the other hand, “being awake” means to be alive and dedicated to one’s Christian calling, active in the service of God and neighbor, living one’s life to the full, never postponing conversion to the last minute. This is being prepared and being “wise.”

Somehow, life is a wait in the dark. Darkness stands for moments of tension, of temptation, of struggle, of despair that put the person in the “dark night of the soul.” On this occasion, one appreciates the value of “oil,” the sign of intimacy, of courage, of faithfulness to one’s consecration as a Christian. With this “oil” in the lamp, one produces the light that breaks through the darkness, until the night passes by and full salvation draws.

Credits: Fr. Gil A. Alinsangan, SSP; From the Mountaintop

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/).