Reflections on the parable about the ten virgins – where half were wise and brought extra oil and half were foolish and didn’t. (See below for the exact scripture)
Hmm. Well this was quite condemning…
I always read this one and consider myself to be one of the wise virgins. Of course I’d bring along extra oil! Who wouldn’t!
But right now in my spiritual life I am realizing that I’m in a season of being one of the foolish ones. *ouch*
How I read this right now: I’m going day to day about things and focusing on the physical needs of the day. I am not prepping or planning spiritually. I am not devoting time spiritually to God – sure He’s in a prayer here and there, but I am not sitting with Him – not truly sitting with Him with Him as my focus. I am caught up like the virgins with focusing on the excitement of the bridgegroom coming that I forget about the planning and the work and all the things to consider for his arrival. “Ooo he’s coming! This will be fun! Let’s go!” instead of “He’s coming! What do I need to have ready for Him and his arrival?”
“all became drowsy and fell asleep”: Yup. I am totally drowsy and asleep spiritually right now. I guess the good thing is the wise virgins fell asleep too? But unlike the wise ones when I wake up I won’t be prepared, they will. They fell asleep secure in their spiritual life. I am falling asleep at risk of being locked out of the celebration.
Well, obviously I want to get into heaven and I want to be prepared to get there. I don’t want to find out I don’t have time to all the day to day spiritual things that will help me get there. I need to keep my lamp filled with oil so that I am not surprised. To be caught off guard means to be too late attending to that which should be attended to –all the spiritual prep and practice I should be doing every day, not just at the last minute. :: It’s the middle of the night – would they actually be able to find a merchant to buy oil from? It seems like a futile activity — too little, too late.
My style of approaching life right now is reactive. I need to be be proactive. I need to focus better. My phone is distracting me. My kids (while important) are distracting me. My household responsibilities are distracting me. I am foolishly letting my lamp run low on oil instead of ensuring that it is filled up.
To correct myself I need to balance better – yes I must continue to do all those good same things I’ve been doing (parenting, spousing, householding) and let go of all those bad habits I’ve been letting myself slip into (phoning, putzing, distracting, wasting time). I can start with being more attentive to my praying — actually set time/space/energy into being with God and letting Him be my focus.
So step one was God pointing out to me that I have slipped over to the foolish virgin side of things. Step two is getting back on the wise side. Thank you God for your love in showing me that I have become drowsy and need to do a better job of staying awake.
50/50
The Parable of the Ten Virgins.*
1 “Then* the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,
4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
10 While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.
11 a Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
12 But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 b Therefore, stay awake,* for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Give God Your Yes 