Let’s talk about sharing, caring and showing simple kindness…
What kind of person are you?
What kind of personality traits do you exhibit?
In the gospel text before us today – sometimes called the “Wise and Unwise Virgins” or otherwise known as “The Ten Bridesmaids…”
I have a little bit of different take on it…
I don’t much care for the designation of “wise and unwise”…”prepared or unprepared…”
My preference would be more along the lines of the Parable of the 5 “mean girls…”
They who refused to share… They dug in their heels. They would not help.
Realizing of course, if this was a family wedding – the bridesmaids would probably be all “family members…”
Probably all cousins…all related….
As the story is told by Jesus – when the bridegroom finally arrives at what is now the wee-hours of the very early morning…
All ten sleeping girls awaken and start to trim their lamps…
Now it is true that five were “prepared” and brought extra oil with them…and five “did not…”
But if they were all related…if they were all one family…shouldn’t they be helping one another out?
If they were all standing up in the same wedding…
Could not they have shared…out of their excess, out of their bounty?
Instead, they immediately respond by saying “No” there will not be enough oil for you and me?
Go out and buy your own…
Go to the market…
Go to the store….
Run to the town…
Go to WalMart they are open 24 hours!
Don’t forget it is shortly after midnight when the groom finally arrives?
And they are supposed to go out at that hour in the middle of the night and purchase olive oil for their lamps…
How about if we all work together?
How about if we all just get along?
How about if we share with others?
After all – don’t we say, that “Sharing is caring!”
To be honest…To be frank…
Sometimes boys can be mean…And yes, sometimes girls can be mean…
I don’t think any of us wants to be known as being mean…
What about working for the common good of all of us?
When the chips are down…
When a time of crisis arrives…
Can you be counted on to help out and to better the situation?
Are you the kind of person that will share…even if you only have a little for yourself?
See that guy over there…he is the kind of guy that would give you the shirt right off his back….
See that gal over there…she would give you her last dime if you asked…
Individually we may not have a great deal, but together we have lots…we have an abundance…
We have more than we need…
Now, if only we would be willing to share what we have with others…
Sharing is caring!!! And caring about one another…is everything!
When it comes to living and being with one another…caring is always best!
Amen.