Greetings on this the Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Cor 1:17-25; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11; Mt 25:1-13
Lamp Without Oil
The lamp without oil are symbolic of a person without good works. They brought no oil with them. It is the good works that light the wick of the lamp of our hearts. The lamp is gift. The works are our response to the gift.
Summary
Parables are useful but not a substitute for exploring, in love, the deeper meanings. Parables are incentives to go deeper. What is this oil for the lamps? Why can’t it be shared and why can’t it be bought? It isn’t about being prudent or failure thereof (see Isaiah reference below) although it is tempting to read it that way. It isn’t about being wise in the classic sense of education. It isn’t about commerce and an acquirable thing. It isn’t about coldheartedness in the final hour when the Bridegroom comes.
It is about the reality we are all responsible for the conduct of our life, individually. Sidebar: that is a radical point in the time of Jesus. The wisdom of love is not transferrable as a possession (“give us some“) but is offered as a gift.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Five and Five (wise and foolish) are representative of schools of thought. If we bring in the first reading today we can see St Paul is thinking the same way. He is not criticizing exactly but noting a frame of reference. A World View. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. Similarly, Isaiah wrote the same, Therefore I will again deal with this people in surprising and wondrous fashion: The wisdom of the wise shall perish, the prudence of the prudent shall vanish (Isa 29:14), greek and jewish, respectively.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Reflection
So what is the foolishness we have a tendency to reject? Self-sacrifice and good works. We attach our suffering and good works to the Cross. Yes, counterintuitive!
Personal Reflection
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Good works in imitation of the Lord are virtuous and yield good fruit. Light my lamp with the oil of love – first given me, and now my sharing of this gift.
Plan a good deed today. Get some oil in that lamp!
Sacred Readings
Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/083024.cfm
First Reading
For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith.
Responsorial
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Be vigilant at all times and pray, that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
Gospel
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But 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.’
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deep thoughts.