Today’s Gospel Text:"Then the kingdom of
heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet
the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish,
and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took
their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but
the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As
the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was
a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those maidens
rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to
the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied,
'Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers
and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the
marriage feast; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward
the other maidens came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, 'Truly, I
say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you
know neither the day nor the hour. Matt
25:1-13
Reflection: Modern
Education has done great wonders; it has brought in development and given ordinary
people access to knowledge.
A
nation’s wealth is often counted by way of its educated class; for wealth is
not just a produce from or of natural resources but also includes human
resources of which intellectual property and contribution thereof is an
important factor.
Having
seen the wonders thereof, every nation makes it point to invest in education
and so too society and communities lay great emphasis on education.
Parent
will go through great lengths to educate their children in every possible way,
making great sacrifice by way of time, wealth and sleep.
Like
every good invention and investments which has a flip side so too education;
the state of the world with its many problems and irreversible damage done also
suggests the evil contribution of education.
No
one complains because we rarely see the negative side and see only the positive side and the great
contribution of education in terms of wealth generation and rarely human development, with no sound criteria to adjudge it.
Does
modern education really develop character and if yes, is it developed in
freedom or is it developed in fear and societal conditioning?
What
do we compare modern education? Is it not like an artificial hormonal growth:
visibly appeals to the eye and growth is sure but is it real quality?
Such
an emphasis on education could even be practiced in the religious places and
seminaries of today.
The
parable reveals to us that that five of the virgins were foolish because they
carried no oil in their lamps; the oil of the Holy Spirit that comes through
learning at the feet of the master and receiving from his Holy Spirit.
How
many of our modern day parents and those among Christians, who have a role in
education, teach the children on the importance of keeping their lamps always
filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Give me the oil O Lord that my lamp may ever be
burning brightly unto eternity and thus prove myself wise in your eyes.
DD = Dedicated
Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
