Breaking the Word

He said to his disciples, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him." And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to (this) mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. (Lk 17:1-6)

Everyone sins in this world. There is no one on this earth who can say that he has not sinned (except Jesus Christ). There are sins which are caused by the others or external agents. These causes are also inevitable. There are persons, events, things which cause another to sin. However, one should be careful not to sin and much more, not to be a cause of sin. Sinner is forgiven (even is he sins seven times a day) but not the one who is the cause of sin.

Anyone who is the cause of sin for the other should be into the sea. He should be thrown with a millstone around his neck. This is so because not even his dead body should be seen (floating). Cause(r) of sin should not be seen. Jesus makes such a strong statement against the one who causes. Could this be because the little ones fall into sin because they are prompted to do so and not by themselves?

Sinner should be forgiven whenever he recognizes his sinfulness and repents. Jesus suggests that he be forgiven seven times (completely). Sinner will realize that he has sinned whereas the causer does not realize that he has caused the sin and hence he does not realize and hence the responsibility falls on the one who commits.

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.' While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!' But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Mt 25:1-13)

This parable is about the bridegroom and ten virgins (friends) who came to receive him. The story does not speak about the bride at all. The parable speaks about the kingdom. The kingdom and belonging to kingdom are the main concerns of this parable. Kingdom is the place where the bridegroom is present or arrives. The time of the arrival of the bridegroom is known.

All the ten virgins are the same. There are wise ones and foolish ones among them. The distinction is based on the way they have prepared themselves to welcome the bridegroom. All the ten feel drowsy and fall asleep. They are equal on this regard. The difference is on their preparedness and readiness to receive when the bridegroom arrives.

The kingdom is a time of celebration. The celebration is the wedding feast of the bridegroom.  The day and the time of arrival of the bridegroom are not known. Readiness at any time is the only requirement from those who await the arrival. Arrival is certain. The bridegroom will definitely come. Readiness is the only element  on which the acquaintance and the belonging to the bridegroom are measured.