By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v10So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed.
v11″Later the others arrived. ‘Sir, sir! Let us in!’ they cried out. v12’Certainly not! I don’t know you,’ the bridegroom answered.” v13And Jesus concluded, “Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Read: Matthew 25:1-13)
The Parable of the Ten Virgins helps us to focus on the here and now. This gospel like others told by Jesus in parables is all about readiness, being alert, a sense of expectancy and hope. These things find relevance in this season of ravaging typhoons and the ongoing pandemic. The past week saw the onslaught of a super typhoon preceded by a milder one. While the technology of weather forecasting has improved a lot, the destruction of properties and loss of lives are still a great concern. One prevailing reason is the human factor. We see on television before and after the typhoon interviews of victims and their admission of not following calamity protocols like preemptive evacuation. In addition, for whatever reason, building of houses on declared danger zones are still tolerated. Foolishness of the victims and or those who are supposed to ensure their well-being? The other half of the 10 young women were described by Matthew as foolish. The foolishness of the five was not only that they forgot to bring extra oil, but because they assumed the exact time that the groom was going to come.
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This parable tells us that there are some things that cannot be put off until the last moment. I don’t know if our church, house or business buildings insurance plans cover earthquakes. But earthquake insurance is not something you can put off until the last moment. In the 20 seconds it takes to do tremendous damage, we have not the time to call a meeting of the building committee and the Parish Council to establish a committee to shop around for the best rates. Diapers and wipes are not something you can put off until the last moment. In the 10 seconds it takes to make a tremendous mess, we have not the time to go to the store, figure out the new size, color, and design, and get the proper quantity and dampness of wipes. A midterm exam is not something you can put off until the last moment. On the morning of the exam, there is neither the time nor the sobriety to understand two months’ worth of knowledge. When it comes to these kinds of decisions in our businesses and homes, we all understand. As businessmen and women and moms and dads we all understand that there are some things that simply cannot be delayed or postponed.
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Jesus is telling us in this simple parable about the tragedy of the unprepared life. Jesus said that we are at all times to be prepared, for no human being knows the hour. My friend, the best way to get ready for tomorrow, is to be ready today. A time will come when no further preparation is possible. I had someone in a former congregation undergo surgery. When I visited her she said to me: “Padi, if everything turns out all right, that’s okay. If everything does not turn out alright, well, that’s okay too.” She was speaking in the language of the five wise maidens. She is prepared to live; she is prepared to die. There are events in life, which have the power to transform the way we look at the world. Jesus’ parable about the ten virgins offers one of these types of events, for the parable is about the Second Coming of Christ.
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The parable of the ten virgins emphasizes that all believers must constantly look to their own spiritual condition in light of Christ’s coming at an unknown and unexpected time. They must preserve in faith so that when the day and hour arrive they will be received by the returning Lord. What differentiates the foolish from the wise is the failure of the foolish to recognize that the return of the Lord will come at an unexpected time, a time not preceded with unmistakable and specific observable time. Christ indicates here and elsewhere that a large portion of the church will be unprepared at the time of his return. Thus Christ makes it clear he will not wait until all churches are prepared for his coming.
Jesus, in a series of illustration stresses the requirement of faithfulness and watchfulness until he returns. The parable of the ten virgins stresses the necessity of perseverance in the faith and spiritual preparedness because of the danger of Christ’s coming at an unforeseeable date.
The oil in the parable represents true faith, righteousness and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.
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It should be noticed that all the virgins (both faithful and unfaithful) were taken by surprise at the bridegroom’s coming. This suggests that the parable of the ten virgins applies to believers living before the tribulation and not those living during the tribulation, who will have adequate signs preceding Christ’s return at the end of the tribulation.
In the futurist view of Christian eschatology (end of times), the Tribulation is a relatively short period of time where everyone will experience worldwide hardships, disasters, famine, war, pain, and suffering, which will affect all of creation, and precede judgement of the wicked people of the Earth before the Second Coming of Christ shall takes place. (Wikipedia)
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When Jesus told the story of the wise and foolish virgins, it may be as the creed puts it, he was thinking of eschatological and apocalyptic things, of when “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” It might also be, on the other hand, that he was thinking of the judgmental dimension of every human encounter.
What I say and do now with you can never be unsaid or undone. What you say and what you do now with me can never be unsaid or undone. If these sayings and doings are not what we wish them to be — as is so often the case, at least in my experience — they can be regretted, they can be reshaped, they can be rethought, they can be grieved, and they can — I am happy to know — be forgiven and forgotten — even if I forget to say, “I’m sorry.” **
Let us pray.
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.**
