Readings (Year A)
Wisdom 6:12-16
Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13
Reflection: The reign of God is both present and on its way
When I was young, this passage was easily one of my least favorite in scripture. First, the notion of all these virgins, hanging around in the dark, waiting for the bridegroom, annoyed me. In my mind I pictured them in their flowing blinged-out party dresses, all silk and crepe, having to fall asleep on the dank and dirty ground while they waited for his arrival. And finally! His grand entrance! I pictured it on a white horse, more fairy tale than scripture, but still: A super-star with all his adoring—virgin—fans!
And all this fussing over the oil? I couldn’t help but wonder: Why did every virgin have to have their own lamp? Wasn’t there enough light for all of them to see by? And why couldn’t those with oil share—isn’t that the Christ-like virtue we all learn in kindergarten? And why, for heaven’s sake, did the virgins who forgot their oil need to be punished so severely, the doors shut forever on their entrance to the feast (into heaven!) because of one forgetful moment? One little error?
I remember being appalled—and not a little frightened. The questions that spun in my mind were these: Was getting into heaven so difficult that one error could banish me forever from Christ’s presence? And if so, was this a God I could love? A God I wanted to love?
Thankfully today I see this story quite differently. I see it solidly as one of anticipation and hope and love, and the responsibility we owe that love.
In the framing of today’s parable, Jesus is referring to early Palestinian Jewish marriage customs, which tell us that the waiting maidens are likely young family members of the bridegroom. In other words, they know him. They may have grown up with him. They have a relationship with him. Furthermore, a delay in his arrival is to be expected because the final marriage contract needs to be negotiated before the celebration can take place. The maidens who love the bridegroom dearly—the wise ones—are excited enough in their anticipation of this event to prepare. Their focus is on their love for him and the celebration (the party) that will commence upon his arrival.
The “foolish” virgins on the other hand—and notice the word is “foolish,” not forgetful—don’t bother to prepare. They, like the wise, also know the groom, but their focus is not on him or his important day. The celebration these maidens know will be coming isn’t enough of a priority to pull them away from their foolish pursuits to prepare themselves.
The foolish virgins love for him is not the same as that of the wise. We know this because what we love always guides our actions and choices, always guides how we spend our time.
Now, notice all the maidens fall asleep. This is not the “stay awake” message we receive in other parts of the gospels, and perhaps it is comforting to remember that even Jesus’ immediate disciples—including the rock of our church—often fell asleep when they were meant to stay awake. Keeping vigil in today’s gospel doesn’t require perfection, or strenuous will, or ignoring bodily needs (like rest) or courting burn-out. It does require shining light in the darkness, lighting the way for Christ, symbolized in the bridegroom. And in this, today’s parable echoes a theme we hear throughout our scriptures.
Upon his arrival, the wise maidens rise and trim the wicks of their lamps, removing the dark char near the top of the wick, so their flames can burn bright and clear. In this light, Christ sees them, he recognizes their faces, knows who they are in the halo of this light.
What does your lamp look like these days? Is it full of oil, or running a bit low? And if low, what needs attention to keep it not only from burning out, but burning bright? Are there steps you can take to fill that reservoir? Rest? Prayer? Service? Community? Perhaps you’re currently overflowing with oil and burning bright. If so, there are dark corners that need your light. How might you bring it into those dark places, to light the way for others?
And for each of us, what might it be time to trim, like the char on those wicks, so our light can burn clear and strong? Certainly our culture beckons us to many occasions for foolishness. Those invitations are right in the palm of our hand, and it is so easy to get caught in them and lose sight of what’s important. Might it be time to let some of those things go? To turn our attention to other things? Other ways of spending our time?
My friends, Christ has already come and continues to come into this world. The reign of God is both present and on its way: a reign presented in this gospel as a party. A party! May we all be recognized as Christ’s beloved guests.
