This week we have an unusual occurrence. The Hebrew Scripture reading and one of the Psalm suggestions are both from the Book of Wisdom. The Gospel parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is also about being wise. The reading from Thessalonians talks about being informed about those who have died.
How do we know how to be wise? In the Book of the Wisdom of
Solomon, wisdom is personified as a woman who is easily found sitting at the
gate and meets them in every thought. Wisdom, it is said, is found by
desiring instruction. Indeed, concern for instruction is love of her.
Therefore, as you become wise, you are nearer to God and will have a kingdom.
In the Gospel (Matthew 25:1-13) Jesus talks about the ten
bridesmaids [who] took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of
them were foolish, and five were wise. We hear that the wise ones were
prepared with extra oil, but the foolish had to leave the celebration to buy
more oil for their lamps. Because of that they miss out on the feast and the
kingdom, being told, Truly I tell you, I do not know you. Jesus ends by
warning you know neither the day nor the hour [when the Son will come].
The lesson being we need to always be ready for God.
In Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) we are given a
grand vision of the end of time when the Lord himself, with a cry of
command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will
descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are
alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet
the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.
Much of the art based on the parable uses vivid symbolism of
light and dark. In this print, the foolish virgins are literally ‘left in the
dark,’ as the wise ones head for the celebration. How do we emulate the wise
virgins and have oil in our lamps to greet the Bridegroom?
What are your thoughts about wisdom and the actions of the 'virgins' in the parable?
How do they apply to you?
12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her.
13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
14 One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate.
15 To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
16 because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
17 The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is love of her,
18 and love of her is the keeping of her laws, and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,
19 and immortality brings one near to God;
20 so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom. (NRSV)
