Thirty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time, November 12, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Oil in the lamps
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
We who wait, the virgins, sometimes wise, sometimes foolish, we sit through the darkness until the coming of the dawn, barely seen in the east, then streaming into sunrise and bursting forth.
But that’s the sun. It doesn’t take stock of our political alignments, or our self-protective legislation, the bribes we offer and accept, or our desperate circumstances. The sun rises on the just and the unjust, and God gives no indication that will ever change.
We hope for much during the dead of night. We expect our children to be alive when we wake up. We hope the men and women who run our government will come up with a plan before morning. We wonder if and when all of us together will lay down our swords and shields and study war no more. We aren’t sure where breakfast will be coming from.
It’s hard for us to hope sometimes. And we forget how important it is to lay in supplies of oil to keep our lamps ablaze. Maybe we think there is no more oil to be had.
The foolish virgins brought no extra oil for their lamps, but the wise brought flasks and flasks of extra oil. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. Then at midnight a cry went up, “Wake up, the bridegroom, he’s here!”
All the lamps are going out. But the foolish virgins have no extra oil. They want their wise friends to lend them some oil, but they refuse.
No, there may not be enough for us and you. Go get some from the market.
But while they were gone the bridegroom came, the marriage ceremony began, and the foolish virgins, rich now with oil but out of time, were locked out.
Lord, Lord, open the door for us! But the bridegroom said to them, “Hmm, I don’t think I know you.”
This is a parable about being ready for Jesus’ second coming, not about generosity in crisis. I for one think the wise virgins could have been more helpful to their foolish friends. But getting back to Jesus’ point. Soon he would be making it without parable:
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know the Passover is two days away – and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
It is at Jesus’ second coming that we can at last relax, and know that whatever struggle and uncertainty we’ve had is behind us. It’s just a matter of time.
You who wait for the Bridegroom of Peace,
who wait for the Feast of Justice
late into the night,
bring extra oil for your lamps.
The wait will be long.
Don’t be tempted by the promise of “soon.”
Don’t be tricked by your impatience.
Light will fade,
evening’s vine will grow up around you,
the sheet of night pulled up over you,
and the wait will go on.
Bring oil,
and go on. Keep your lamp trimmed,
your little lamp of hope,
little flame of trust and goodwill.
The night will be long,
rumors will precede the bridegroom
yet the bridegroom will not come,
and you will tire.
But do not fall to either sleep or despair.
Love is changing the world,
but you will not see it for a long time.
Let your oil be plentiful enough to last and to share.
No matter how long it takes, keep the flame.
Illumine the little circle where you are.
Light the way. – Steve Garnaas-Holmes
(Wisdom 6, Psalm 63, 1 Thessalonians, Matthew 24, Matthew 25)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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