Is my lamp running out of oil? - If so what can I do?

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 21st Week - Friday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 25:1-13*

*First Reading - 1 Thes 4:1-8*

*Is my lamp running out of oil? - If so what can I do?*

*1) Lamp without oil is of no use*

A lamp without oil has no existence. It can't serve in any way 

Lamp can produce light only if the lamp contains oil. Oil is the force which ultimately produces the light 

A lamp with oil can save a person from darkness and can guide his/her journey in a proper direction

*2) Lamps with out Oil*

In the Gospel of the day, We come across a situation of the virgins who had no oil but only the lamps 

When the bridegroom came, they had to light their lamps, but since there was no oil, they could not light it 

Only then they realised that their lamps were running out of oil and they can't use their lamps anymore

*3) The result of Having of oil*

They had to search at the 11th hour 

They could not get the oil very easily 

By the time they got the oil, they were late and could not enter into the wedding feast 

They lost the chance of the wedding feast forever 

*4) The oil which was in the lamp and the oil which was bought later*

The wise virgins had oil in their lamps, that's why they were able to light their lamps immediately and was able to take part in the wedding feast 

The foolish had no oil, at thr time when the bridegroom came, but they managed to get oil later. But it was useless. 

So this aspect highlights the oil, which the Virgin had with them was more important than the oil which was bought afterwords

So we need to underline that, unless we have the oil with us, we can do nothing. One can't depend on others oil. It may not serve our need, when it is most necessary

 

*5) The original oil and the bought oil*

We need to make a difference between these two. 

Those who had original oil in their lamps were wise virgins 

Those who bought and dependent on others oil became foolish virgins 

The bought oil can't replace the original oil and it has no capacity to become original 

*6) My lamp and Oil*

Our life is like a lamp, which should have its original oil 

The oil of Christian faith, the oil of belief in one True God, the oil of sacraments, the oil of commandments of the Lord, the oil humility, generosity, forgiveness, simplicity, service, etc, serve as original oil of our life 

If this oil runs out of from our life, our life has no meaning and it can't shine anymore.

So we need to take care to preserve this oil in our life, so that our lamp of life will shine at all time 

*7) Need to refil it, before it runs out*

The foolish virgins tried to fill thier lamps after it ran out, which was useless 

Had they filled before it ran out, would have been helpful for them 

So we need to refill it, at proper time, from proper source 

*Am I ready for it?*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*