By Raison D’Souza, CSC –
Readings: 1 Thes 4:1-8; Mt 25:1-13
A warrior in the battlefield usually carries enough arrows in his quiver. A soldier, besides his gun, usually has a backpack to counter the enemy. This manifests the plan and preparedness of the soldier to face the enemy with utmost courage. It is because he has a plan for his immediate future too. The gospel conveys that five wise bridesmaids were prepared to face the uncertainty and the other five were not.
The parable of the ten bridesmaids who went to meet the bridegroom with lamps throws light into my own preparedness to face the uncertainties of life. Jesus puts across a stark difference between the five wise bridesmaids and the five foolish.
Through this parable Jesus personally invites me to be prepared to face the unexpected situations of life. Now that the Lord has called me to follow him, it is clear that all my expectations will not be met and the most unexpected situations will surely come only to make me stronger and bold and to fill my quiver with sufficient arrows to fight against the enemy and stand boldly through the good times and the bad times.
I also see another important point that Jesus makes in the gospel. When the foolish asked for some of the oil from the wise, the wise replied bluntly that there would not be enough oil for all of them. This reminds me that I am not to depend on the wise without looking at my God-given worth. It is only when I realize my worth and actualize it, I will be radiating Christ’s glory through me. “The glory of God is a human being fully alive”- St. Irenaeus.