Something that cannot be shared

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.

Transcript

00:00 When you hear that parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins, which is the

00:07 Gospel for the Mass this Sunday, doesn't it raise a question that just seems very confusing

00:14 and hard to answer?

00:16 And the question is, why don't the virgins that have all the extra oil, why don't they

00:22 share it with those who need it?

00:25 It doesn't seem to make sense.

00:26 It looks like they're being selfish or greedy, but obviously that can't be the answer.

00:31 So why don't they share it?

00:33 And the answer is because, the only answer that makes sense, is that the oil is something

00:41 that can't be shared.

00:44 And you say, well, wait, that doesn't make sense.

00:46 What is there that I have that I can't share with somebody else?

00:50 Well, think of it this way.

00:52 Let's say that you're getting ready for the big geometry exam next Tuesday in school,

00:59 and geometry is not your thing, it was not my thing, and you're really worried.

01:03 So you go to your friend who's a whiz at math, and you say, listen, I'm just afraid about

01:07 this exam.

01:08 You're so good at this.

01:09 Can I please borrow your math aptitude so that I can take that test with your brain

01:17 so that I can get a good grade?

01:19 And your friend loves you.

01:20 She'll do anything for you, but she can't give you this.

01:23 Why?

01:24 Because it can't be shared.

01:26 It's hers.

01:27 It's part of her being.

01:28 And that's what the oil represents.

01:30 Carol Houseland says, "The oil is the potency of life.

01:35 It is the will and the desire to love."

01:38 And that is what makes the wise virgins wise.

01:42 They spend the whole of their life dedicated to the love of the bridegroom, who is Jesus.

01:48 The whole of their life given over to loving.

01:52 And that is what Jesus is calling us to as he prepares for his death.

01:55 Let's be wise in the way that we live, using all of our spiritual powers right now in expectation

02:04 of the bridegroom by loving, by giving ourselves over to all that God asks of us so that when

02:10 he arrives, we can welcome him with the joy which he makes possible because we have lived

02:18 our life in union with him.

02:20 "

02:21 "I am not a slave to the law.

02:22 I am not a slave to the law.

02:23 I am not a slave to the law.

02:24 I am not a slave to the law.

02:25 I am not a slave to the law.