"As you know (and are writing about), it can be confusing to separate out small parts of one of Jesus’ parables. The overall moral of the story is what is best to focus upon. In this case, as Jesus sums up: “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
I can’t specifically answer your questions about why 5 were called foolish and 5 were called wise, why there was no sharing.
What I do believe, is that the oil represents the presence of God the Holy Spirit in our lives. Oil that we pay a price to keep burning in our hearts by living a Godly life. And only if we have enough of this spiritual oil to keep our lamps lit during the dark nights of an already 2000-year delay of our Messiah bridegroom’s return – will we be guarded from the temptation of spiritual sleepiness when that day finally arrives."
Wow! I wish more people took the time to be so inquisitive! However, I do have two very Lutheran (ELCA Lutheran) concern about your exegesis! I take gentle issue with this: we never "pay a price" to keep our hearts burning. And the sentence that follows: "And only if we have enough of this spiritual oil to keep our lamps lit..."
As ELCA Lutherans we teach that God is the actor in our lives. We teach that we always have "enough!" Because! Because God provides His Spirit, who moves in under and around us, to make the tiniest seed "enough." God does the work to keep that seed growing and growing! The only "price" is our faith and that is free for the having. All we have to "pay" is giving our very capable self-sufficiency into the reliable, and all-wise, hand of a loving God. Which isn't always an easy trick!
Having said all of that, I love your imagination and willingness to enter the conversation.
The issue of the five who where wise and the five who were foolish has been interpreted, by some, as the general make up a of any Christian community. In most any group of Jesus' followers there are those who very faithful; and those who try on the name Chirstian when it is convenient. Those who desire with all there heart to follow. And those who don't have the same commitment. The wise then are those who have given their attention to what Jesus has taught. The others didn't.
The truth is, you can't literally share the desire to be true to Jesus. The foolish often don't give a ripe really. Not, that is, until it may be too late. God accepts both choices whether he like it of not! The main point of the parable, in my imagination is: being a believer in name only is not enough.
As for the point of the shut door! I, personally, do not believe that Jesus would ever turn away anyone who truly was sorry for their slip in preparation! That is, not having enough oil for a lamp! Not enough forethought! I honestly believe that any of us, at any given time, could be caught unprepared. Our hope is not that we have enough oil! Our hope is having the tiniest seed of faith to want to be with Jesus, and do what Jesus asks, now and forever.
Because, as my mother so wisely told me when I was eight years old: "Jesus told us that no one could know the time of the world's ending." My mother was one of the five who had enough oil! A very wise woman!
The example of the five wise women, who came prepared with enough oil, is how Jesus asks us to live. He asks us to live our lives as his disciples -- his students -- so that the world will see the truth of his way in the environment in which we live. And, we live as his students with so much more to learn everyday. And people watch! And people listen! And sometimes they come with enough oil too!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please be mindful of the comments you leave. This is a place for a civil and engaged conversation.