In response to a question about truth and right and wrong a year seven student recently asked a pretty astute question. How do we know we are right? How do we know that another groups isn’t? Who is to say even a group like ISIL may not be right?
It was a confronting moment but a good reminder about being too dogmatic about what we think or believe. The story of the 10 bridesmaids found in Matthew 25:1-13 is a passage that could lead us quickly down the rabbit hole of judging who is and who is out, who is wise and who is foolish.
The moment we think we are the wise ones we could mistakenly think we do not have to care for those on the other side of the door – the foolish. Or, even worse, to justify our actions against those we have decided are foolish.
Just as Jesus was critical elsewhere of such piety I wonder if in his telling of the parable of the bridesmaids Jesus is placing a puzzle, a conundrum, a parable! before the disciples. How does the barrier, the door, between those who think they are wise (the Pharisees?) and those who seem to be excluded get broken down?
Despite the admonition to stay awake, the answer is not in staying awake, which even the disciples are unable to do in the next chapter, but in the one who wakes us from our slumber breaking forth on Easter morning from the tomb:Jesus!
For the Church, which long ago was spoken of the bride of Christ, I wonder if the question is how do we live celebrating as people who realise that in Christ’s death and resurrection the door between the wise and foolish is as provisional as the door between life and death. How do we live not as wise judges but inviting revelers?