Homily for August 30th,
2013: Matt. 25:1-13.
To understand the story in today’s
gospel we must know that in Jesus’ day marriages were arranged between the two
families. The ten virgins or bridesmaids in the story are waiting at the bride's house for the
negotiations to conclude at the house of the bridegroom. Close to midnight, when the
bride’s party has begun to fear that the groom may not come at all, he
suddenly appears to fetch his bride, accompanied by a crowd of his friends and
relatives, carrying torches -- necessary because there was of course no street
lighting. Whereupon the combined parties, all carrying lighted torches, would
proceed back to the groom’s house for the actual wedding ceremony, followed by
further feasting and dancing into the wee hours.
Despite the final sentence about
staying awake, the story is really not about ceaseless vigilance, for all ten
bridesmaids sleep. The emphasis is on being
prepared. Most commentators think that
the words, “stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour,” were added
by Matthew from another context.
The bridesmaids’ torches consisted of
rags tightly wound around the end of a pole and drenched with oil. After
perhaps a quarter hour, the flame would go out, unless fresh oil was poured on
the torch. The foolish bridesmaids don’t bother to bring any reserve of oil,
assuming that they will always be able to scrounge more. When the midnight cry,
“The bridegroom is here!” wakes all ten bridesmaids from sleep, five are caught
unaware and unprepared. Before they can get more oil and re-light their
torches, the wedding is history and they are shut out.
The story is Jesus’ attempt to
penetrate the complacency of the crowds who heard him. The story warns that
them they are passing up an opportunity which will not be come again. The story
continues to challenge us today with two urgent questions. We ignore them at
our peril. When will the midnight cry come for me? And, when it does, will I be
prepared?
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