GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 26, 2022 - FRIDAY

21st Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mt 25:1-13  

Jesus said to his disciples, 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be  like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the  bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When  the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise  took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed,  all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a  shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then  all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish  said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going  out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! There will not be enough for you and  for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’  10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who  were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door  was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord,  open to us.’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Parables are not only stories that make a single point. They  engage their hearers by provoking them to react, to ask  questions, think deeply, and respond to their own questions,  thus gaining better insight into what Jesus wants to convey about  the Kingdom of heaven. The parable of the ten virgins portrays the  necessity of readiness and staying awake, for the Kingdom is a reality  whose appearance cannot be predicted. If five of the virgins are gifted  with wisdom and, thus, have foresight to provide themselves with  extra oil, should not that wisdom be exercised also to help those who  are foolish and lack foresight? The wise have a responsibility toward  the foolish, since “more will be demanded of the person entrusted with  more” (cf. Lk 12:48). But here, the wise failed to help the foolish when  there was still time, because like the foolish, they also fell asleep.  This must be why Jesus ends the parable with the strong call, “Stay  awake!” The time of waiting for the bridegroom is meant to be spent  making one’s gifts beneficial not only to oneself but also to others. 

Lord Jesus, help us to place all our gifts at the service of others and for  the fulfillment of the purposes of the heavenly Kingdom. Amen.