Fr. Marsel R. Taruk sx
Reflection on Sunday 32nd Ordinary Time
Wisdom is a virtue given to all those who seek her, even before our desire and our watching for wisdom, she comes to us. Find her before is too late.
The readings of this Sunday (first one and the Gospel) underline the same idea: Wisdom. What is Wisdom? In some cultures, wisdom relates to having long experience and knowledge in life (often associated with white or grey hairs). However, if we look keenly to both readings, wisdom is more about prevention, anticipation, and action. It is all about common sense, a sound, practical judgement concerning everyday matters, or a basic ability to perceive, understand and judge.
We are familiar with the parable of the ten Virgins told by Jesus to illustrate about the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable defines the Virgins into two categories: the first five were foolish and the second one were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps without extra oil while the wise took the lamps with extra oil. We know the rest of the story very well: the foolish ones were left out of the party due to their absence when the groom arrived. We normally pass the judgment that because of their carelessness or lack of common sense caused them to miss the most important moment. The foolish ones thought it was just to demand some oil from the wise ones. They did not care if the wise suffered, they were willing to risk the welfare of the wise, provided only that the foolish had a chance to getting something for themselves.
What if we look the story from a different angle, that is to judge the five wise virgins with lack of sensitivity to those who are in need. It sounds that the so-called wise virgins are actually too self-centred, no room for sharing with others. Indee the foolish approach the wise 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' I imagine if these virgins did apply our Sierra Leonean slogan of “managing any little we have” I guess there would be no one to be locked out of the party. But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.' I wonder if the suggestion is a wise advice either. Is it possible to find a shop selling oil in the middle of the night?
No matter how we look at the parable, we might draw to universal values from this parable. First, there are certain things which we cannot be obtained at the last minute. Indeed, it is easy most of the time, that we leave things so late, that we can no longer prepare ourselves to meet God. To be too late is always tragedy. “Keep our eyes open, for we know not the day or the hour”. The other thing is that there are certain things that cannot be borrowed. The foolish virgins found it impossible to borrow oil, when they discovered they needed it. We cannot borrow a relationship with God; we must possess it for ourselves. There are certain things we must win or acquire for ourselves, for we cannot borrow them from others. There is no knell so laden with regret as the sound of the words too late….
Marsel Rt.
Reflection on Sunday 32nd Ordinary Time
Wisdom is a virtue given to all those who seek her, even before our desire and our watching for wisdom, she comes to us. Find her before is too late.
The readings of this Sunday (first one and the Gospel) underline the same idea: Wisdom. What is Wisdom? In some cultures, wisdom relates to having long experience and knowledge in life (often associated with white or grey hairs). However, if we look keenly to both readings, wisdom is more about prevention, anticipation, and action. It is all about common sense, a sound, practical judgement concerning everyday matters, or a basic ability to perceive, understand and judge.
We are familiar with the parable of the ten Virgins told by Jesus to illustrate about the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable defines the Virgins into two categories: the first five were foolish and the second one were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps without extra oil while the wise took the lamps with extra oil. We know the rest of the story very well: the foolish ones were left out of the party due to their absence when the groom arrived. We normally pass the judgment that because of their carelessness or lack of common sense caused them to miss the most important moment. The foolish ones thought it was just to demand some oil from the wise ones. They did not care if the wise suffered, they were willing to risk the welfare of the wise, provided only that the foolish had a chance to getting something for themselves.
What if we look the story from a different angle, that is to judge the five wise virgins with lack of sensitivity to those who are in need. It sounds that the so-called wise virgins are actually too self-centred, no room for sharing with others. Indee the foolish approach the wise 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' I imagine if these virgins did apply our Sierra Leonean slogan of “managing any little we have” I guess there would be no one to be locked out of the party. But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.' I wonder if the suggestion is a wise advice either. Is it possible to find a shop selling oil in the middle of the night?
No matter how we look at the parable, we might draw to universal values from this parable. First, there are certain things which we cannot be obtained at the last minute. Indeed, it is easy most of the time, that we leave things so late, that we can no longer prepare ourselves to meet God. To be too late is always tragedy. “Keep our eyes open, for we know not the day or the hour”. The other thing is that there are certain things that cannot be borrowed. The foolish virgins found it impossible to borrow oil, when they discovered they needed it. We cannot borrow a relationship with God; we must possess it for ourselves. There are certain things we must win or acquire for ourselves, for we cannot borrow them from others. There is no knell so laden with regret as the sound of the words too late….
Marsel Rt.