August 31, 2018

Gospel: Mt 25:1-13
This story throws light on what will happen in the kingdom of heaven: Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were sensible. The careless bridesmaids took their lamps as they were, and did not take extra oil. But those who were sensible, took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom delayed, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight, a cry rang out, ‘The bridegroom is here, come out and meet him!’ All the maidens woke up at once, and trimmed their lamps. Then the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some oil, for our lamps are going out.’ The sensible ones answered, ‘There may not be enough for us and for you. You had better go to those who sell, and buy some for yourselves.’ When the bridegroom came, the foolish maidens were out buying oil, but those who were ready went with him into the wedding feast, and the doors were shut. Later the other bridesmaids arrived and called out, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered, ‘Truly I do not know you.’ So stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Reflections
So stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour. For the Jews God is Totally Other. For the Infinite God to become enfleshed in a finite creature is foolishness. For the Greeks, the material world is defiled and imperfect, a mere shadow of the Real. For the infinite God to be incarnate in a fragile human being is a scandal. For us Christians, while the Incarnation reveals the perfect love of God who condescends to embrace our human condition, the Cross reveals the breadth and depth of the love of God who embraces death in order to save us. How foolish and beautiful our God is.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2018