Brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God – and as you are conducting yourselves – you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-3)
“At midnight, there was a cry, ‘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.’ While 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.” (Matthew 25:6-10)
Piety
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. May I grow in holiness each day. May there be no need for worry about the date or time of your return.
Study
 |
| Peter von Cornelius, Die klugen und die törichten Jungfrauen (c.1813), Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons |
Our readings for today share a common theme – be ready for the Lord’s return. Most scholars think our first reading comes from the oldest book in the New Testament. It seems likely that Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians was completed by the year 52. But Matthew’s Gospel, which contains today’s parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids, most likely wasn’t written until later, sometime between the years 80 and 90. Reading through Paul’s letter, it’s fairly clear that the young church expected the Lord’s return at any moment, most definitely during their lifetime. But 30 or 40 years later, the community Matthew was addressing had seen an entire generation die and a new one spring up with no sign of Christ’s return. They were beginning to realize they might be waiting for much longer than they had expected.
I have to admit I have always had trouble relating to this Gospel story about the wise and foolish bridesmaids. For one thing, you have to forget everything you know about modern wedding customs because it was all done differently. The marriage contract was drawn up between the groom and the father of the bride before the bride and groom had ever met. The groom agreed to pay the bride’s parents an amount to cover their expenses in raising her. Then the bridegroom met his intended and told her he was going to his home to prepare a place for her. What we see in today’s parable is the bridegroom, having completed his preparations, returning to get his bride to take her to his home for the wedding festivities.1 Weddings usually took place at night, but in today’s reading, the bridegroom is even later than expected. The bridesmaids have all fallen asleep. Half of them prepared beforehand, laying in extra oil for their lights, and the other half didn’t. You’d think the ones with forethought would have shown a little compassion, but they weren’t operating out of an abundance mentality. So the foolish girls disappear in a frantic search for more oil. When they get back, they are locked out of the festivities.
Action
The message is clear: be prepared because we don’t know when Christ will return.
I don’t live in first-century Thessalonica, sure that Christ’s return in glory will happen during my lifetime. I have no way of knowing whether it’s next week or thousands or millions of years in the future.
The timing just doesn’t seem that crucial if we’re busy in the here and now loving Jesus to the best of our abilities, which vary from day to day. Daily we can be amazed and humbled at Jesus’ love for us, sins and all. Paul had the best advice for his Thessalonian friends – however long it is, strive for holiness each day.
The here and now presents many opportunities for Christian love and living. I’m sure your head is as filled as mine with the images of flooding, wrecked homes and businesses, as well as displaced persons in the wake of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Texas. On our diocesan website, you can make donations that will be forwarded to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Charities USA for relief efforts. You will also have the opportunity to give to a special collection to be taken up in all of our Arlington Diocese parishes over the next two Sundays.
1 For more information, see http://www.wildolive.co.uk/weddings.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment