Are we ready?

For many reasons, next Sunday's gospel message puts me on edge. The lectionary provides us with the parable of the ten bridesmaids.

"Jesus said, "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, `Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 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.' And 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. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, `Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.""

I find this parable confusing on many levels. First, why don't the bridesmaids who have oil share their oil with the others? Isn't Christ's message about loving others, you know by sharing food, clothing, even oil? Secondly, why did they trim their lamps? The bridegroom had arrived was there any need for their lamps anymore? And thirdly, why did the five bridesmaids take a stock of oil with them? Did they know something the others didn't? I must admit that I don't have all the answers to these questions, however after a bit of reflection I have come to a few conclusions.

I've had to discern what the oil symbolizes in this parable. There are many things in this world that Christ calls us to share. Money, food, and our gifts and talents are a few. However, there are other things we are unable to share such as faith or our relationship with God. Of course we can "share" our faith through conversation and prayer, yet we cannot just give our faith to someone else. If the oil symbolizes our faith than the parable begins to make more sense. The five bridesmaids were unable to give their "oil" to the others because a relationship with God can only happen between you and God.

The same idea applies to trimming our lamps. Christ requires that we maintain our relationship with Him. Our wicks need to be trimmed, our prayer lives maintained, our hearts and minds challenged. As Christ's bridesmaids we must continually prepare ourselves for our relationship with God. Studying scripture, resting in God, praying, and worshiping God are all ways that we "trim our lamps."

And finally, we must be prepared for the journey that awaits us. The wise bridesmaids understood that this life is full of many twists and turns. They knew that faith and a relationship with God were the only ways to be prepared. They brought extra "oil" because they didn't know how long the wait would be or what would happen in the meantime.

So, we need to ask ourselves if we are prepared for the road that lies ahead? Are we trimming our lamps, so that when Christ comes we may enter his wedding banquet? No one knows how long the wait will be...will you be ready?