Where is your Flask of Oil?
This week’s liturgy invites us to pay attention to our human frailty and specifically our mortality. Death is a part of human life – we are all born to die. I often meet people on the verge of their death. Some are scared to die, others feel unprepared and anxious, some don’t want to let go of this world – their belongings including family and their lives – but a few are calm and are able to face their inevitable death. Peace comes to us when we are in touch with our humanness and count on the blessings that come from our Maker – our God. When we know in the depths of our being that our God is a loving and caring God, we are free from every fear. Psalm 23 affirms, “Even though, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (v 4).
Saint Paul wrote his letter to the Thessalonians around 48 AD. At that time Christians believed in the imminent second coming of Christ, known as Parousia. Because of this belief, there arose some practical problems. Many stopped working and spent time praying and preparing for Parousia. The second problem was more theological – what will happen to those who have already died and gone before? For Paul, when Jesus comes in Glory, the dead will have already been raised to new life. So, Paul emphasizes our need to prepare for the day of the Lord’s coming without neglecting any responsibilities in this world for our neighbours and for ourselves.
The Gospel of Mathew was written around 70 AD which addresses a similar problem. Now, a lot of time is passed from the death and resurrection of Christ. His expected Parousia did not actualize and as a result, some have felt discouraged, others felt cheated and left their faith. Here, Matthew uses this parable of Jesus advising the believers to keep themselves ready for meeting Christ. He adds a saying of Jesus at the end of the parable for emphasis, saying, “So, stay awake because you do not know either the day or the hour” (Mt. 25: 13).
The First Reading from Wisdom literature creates a good balance. The wisdom that comes from God can help every person to find joy in life. Wisdom is a gift from God that teaches us to choose right things and to do it well. Like the five wise virgins who carried their flask of oil, we are advised to bring with us our good works with diligent vigilance to the wedding banquet of heaven.
–Fr. Ranjan D’Sa OCD