Not enough for us and you - Aug 28
“No, for there may not be enough for us and you.” Mt 25:9
My cell phone battery seldom gets below 60% charged. If it is below 80% and I have the opportunity to charge it, I will. I pride myself on being prepared. Too often, however, this looks like way more anxiety, research, and worry than is warranted or healthy, but I’m prepared.
I identify with the wise and prepared virgins with enough oil in case things happened like the bridegroom being delayed. I would have been in that group. When the tardy bridegroom finally shows up and the unprepared virgins ask the “wise” ones to share, they reply, “No, for there may not be enough.” I’m uncomfortable with that response. These ‘wise’ ones seem to be taken over by a fear of scarcity and refuse assistance. They may be ‘wise’ but they sure don’t seem compassionate. “Sorry sisters. You snooze; you lose!”
I know this parable is trying to make a different point, but I wonder what my response would have been if I were in the shoes of the prepared ones?
The Psalm appointed for today, Psalm 33, has the line “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” The virgins are concerned that there is not enough, but the Psalmist proclaims abundance.
Living as if the earth is truly full of the goodness of the Lord is challenging. Sometimes it seems that all we see is definitely not “goodness.” Our eyes are not accustomed to recognizing all this goodness. We must take time for our eyes to adjust to become eyes that truly see earth’s fullness.
When presented with a need, let’s be prepared with an abundance of goodness and generosity.