The Gospel According to Matthew – 2017.11.12
Betrayal
This
parable is a rank betrayal of the way.
The
writers and editors of Matthew’s gospel, did not understand the basic meaning
of the most prevalent of Jesus’ teaching, which is that the last will be first
and the first will be last.
Those
imposters in the early church betrayed the teaching of Jesus providing
justification for the miser, to those who would withhold from others the gifts
they had under the mistaken notion that the gifts of heaven are distributed
according to some standard other than the selfless love God has for all of
God’s children.
A
person is not rewarded in the way because they are smart, people are not
punished because they are foolish or unprepared.
The
commandment that Jesus has issued are simple: Love one another, as I have loved
you.
A
Christian is to love God with all their heart, and all their strength and all
their mind. They are to love their neighbor even as they love themselves. Jesus
teaches us that within these words are contained the entire code of the law,
and all of the teachings of the prophets.
Jesus
expressed his understanding if this law in the most beautiful synthesis: Do
unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
This
parable, that the writers of Matthew saw fit to include in the gospel, is a
betrayal of the teaching of Jesus.
They
put a lie in his mouth, doing great damage to everyone who sought to follow in
the way after them.
The False Bridesmaids and the False Groom
Jesus
told this parable to his disciples: ‘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 sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but
they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as
their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.
But at midnight there was a cry, “The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.”
At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish
ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going
out.” But they replied, “There may not be enough for us and for you; you had
better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves.” They had gone off
to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to
the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later.
“Lord, Lord,” they said “open the door for us.” But he replied, “I tell you
solemnly, I do not know you.” So stay awake, because you do not know either the
day or the hour.’
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
