27
Aug
Aug
Reflection: Matthew 25:1-13
The parable of the ten virgins is a bit confusing: the foolish virgins could have joined the wedding with the little oil they still have! At midnight, when the markets are closed, where would they buy the oil from? The wise virgins are so selfish that they refuse to share the oil that they had, and it is very much un-Christian! Fr. Fernando Armellini gives a beautiful reflection of the parable and says that the call to“ stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour” is not fully true: even the wise virgins slept, and have not been vigilant. The figure of the groom behaves strange – he was late to arrive, but then slams the doors on a few who, in fact, waited for long for his arrival. Both the number five and the image of virgins are symbols of the people of Israel. Number ten indicates the totality. The ten virgins represent the people of Israel awaiting the Messiah. Only a few of them – the five wise virgins – are prepared to accept and enter into the Christian community, while the five foolish virgins are not attentive to God’s plans. This was the message of the parable of Jesus. But, Fifty years later, when Matthew writes his Gospel, the problems faced by his community are different. Therefore, Matthew adapted the parable to the catechetical needs of his communities. The early Christian communities were expecting an imminent second coming of Jesus. Many decades have passed, but nothing has happened. Gradually they lose patience and return to their previous lifestyles and behaviours. Matthew adapts the parable to emphasise the importance of being prepared. Here, the ten virgins indicate the Christian community that awaits the return of Jesus – in his second coming. But why are some of them foolish here? The co-existence of good and bad was a theme that Matthew had developed already: the wheat and the weeds grow together; the good fishes and the bad are in the same net; clean and dirty people sit at the same table; thus, the wise and the foolish are side by side. The wise virgins, who refuse to share their oil with their companions, contains a valuable message. It is not because they are selfish, but it shows that no one else can substitute for your faith and preparedness. The closing of the door indicates the end of every opportunity to accept Jesus. It is urgent to discern how to use life well. Jesus comes not only at the end of our life. He comes in every moment and wants to find us engaged in service to our brothers and sisters. The lamp of hope, love and justice should always be on, in our rooms – in our lives, for the poor and the stranger seeking help.