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In today’s Gospel, we are given one directive: be ready. We are all living alongside each other in the world. We have our families, our friends, and our work associations among other groups of people with whom we spend time, but that does not mean we are all the same. We are not all living the same interior lives. The ten virgins in the parable all lived alongside each other, but only half were prepared to meet the bridegroom. And let us not be mistaken; the bridegroom is Jesus.
The ten virgins wander out into the dark to wait, and yet some of them don’t remember to bring extra flasks of oil with them. Not knowing how long they would wait or when the time would come for the bridegroom to appear, they should have assessed the situation before they went out. They even got drowsy and fell asleep in their waiting, even those who didn’t bring extra oil for their lamps. Many people live this way, moment to moment, without a thought of preparation for things to come. They get along in life, asking those who are prepared to share their stores.
This reminds me of the old cartoon based on Aesop’s Fable about the ants and the grasshopper, where the ants work all summer long building up their stores, while the grasshopper lies back and enjoys itself until winter comes and is unprepared. Then, the suffering begins. It is a deadly way to live, and in the Gospel reading today, Jesus isn’t talking about surviving the night or the winter. He is alluding to everlasting life.
Half of the virgins were sent to go off to buy more oil for their lamps at midnight. It’s the darkest hour, and they have to go in search of oil while those who prepared are called into the feast. Where will they find a vendor to buy oil from at midnight? Did they knock on doors that weren’t answered only to delay them further? Their inability to plan pushed them even further from the banquet, but the time had already passed. The door was locked right away after those whose lamps were still lit entered the feast. There was no more time for preparation. Their chance had passed.
Jesus warns us, “For you know neither the day nor the hour.” We must prepare now during our earthly lives through prayer, receiving the Sacraments, and spending our time carrying forth the teachings of Jesus. For when our last breath passes out of us and our lamplight goes out, the time for preparation will have passed.
En el Evangelio de hoy recibimos una sola instrucción: estar preparados. Todos convivimos en este mundo. Tenemos a nuestras familias, amigos y compañeros de trabajo, entre otros grupos de personas con quienes compartimos nuestro tiempo; sin embargo, eso no significa que todos seamos iguales. No todos llevamos la misma vida interior. Las diez vírgenes de la parábola convivían entre sí, pero solo la mitad estaba preparada para recibir al esposo. Y no nos equivoquemos: el esposo es Jesús.
Las diez vírgenes salen a la oscuridad para esperar, pero algunas olvidan llevar consigo reservas de aceite. Sin saber cuánto tiempo tendrían que esperar ni cuándo aparecería el esposo, debieron haber evaluado la situación antes de salir. Incluso sintieron sueño y se quedaron dormidas durante la espera, incluidas aquellas que no habían llevado aceite adicional para sus lámparas. Muchas personas viven así, momento a momento, sin pensar en prepararse para lo que ha de venir. Van pasando por la vida pidiendo a los que sí están preparados que compartan sus reservas.
Esto me recuerda a la antigua fábula de Esopo sobre las hormigas y la cigarra: las hormigas trabajan todo el verano acumulando provisiones, mientras la cigarra se relaja y disfruta hasta que llega el invierno y la encuentra desprevenida. Entonces comienza el sufrimiento. Es una forma de vivir peligrosa; y en la lectura de hoy, Jesús no habla de sobrevivir la noche o el invierno, sino que alude a la vida eterna.
La mitad de las vírgenes tuvo que ir a comprar más aceite para sus lámparas a medianoche. Es la hora más oscura, y deben salir en busca de aceite mientras las que se prepararon son invitadas al banquete. ¿Dónde encontrarían un vendedor a esa hora? ¿Llamaron a puertas que nadie abrió, retrasándolas aún más? Su falta de previsión las alejó todavía más del banquete, pero el tiempo ya se había agotado. La puerta se cerró inmediatamente después de que entraran al banquete las que tenían lámparas aún encendidas. Ya no hubo tiempo para prepararse. La oportunidad ya se había pasado.
Jesús nos advierte: “Estén pues, preparados, porque no saben ni el día ni la hora”. Debemos prepararnos ahora, durante nuestra vida terrenal, mediante la oración, la recepción de los sacramentos y dedicando nuestro tiempo a difundir las enseñanzas de Jesús. Pues, cuando exhalemos nuestro último suspiro y se apague la luz de nuestra lámpara, el tiempo de preparación ya se habrá pasado.
Anita L Renaghan is the author of several books including literary fiction, science fiction, and a young adult trilogy. She loves a good character study and has been many characters herself including: an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force, a college graduate, a second degree blackbelt, lost, a waitress and bartender, a wife and mother, an account executive, found, and a constantly inventive singer-songwriter. Anita is interested in sharing her faith with others through her writings and story characters. Her website is anitarenaghan.com.
Feature Image Credit: Gadiel Lazcano, unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-of-man-on-boat-during-sunset-LyssXmquYOc
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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