Breaking the Word

"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)

The wise people are ever ready. They may also fall asleep. But ready to move on as soon as the bridegroom comes. They also fell asleep and that is not the main concern. They fell asleep because of the delay in the arrival of the bridegroom. They were ready at the appointed time. If the bridegroom has come at that time they would not have been sleeping. The delay made them sleep but they were ready.

The foolish people have also come for the function but they were not ready and prepared for the function. Those who accompany the bridegroom are supposed to have had their lamps ready and with oil. These people have come without preparation. Entry into the place of celebration is considered only on this account: they should be ready at the time of arrival.

The bridegroom is late. This is not to blame the bridegroom; rather this is to say that the bridegroom arrival is not known to anyone. Neither the foolish nor (even) the wise is able discern the arrival of the bridegroom. It is hidden from the knowledge of the people. He comes at night because that is the time when no one will expect the arrival of the bridegroom. Precisely because of this  all fell asleep. Be awake and ready.

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.  (Mt 24:42-51)

Thieves still enter houses and steal things away. They enter the houses even when they are strongly protected and secured. They enter even the housed of the security men and steal away things. They are still successful in their job of stealing because they know the hour and the time when the master is away or sleeping. They are awake when the master of the house is sleeping.

Servants are appointed to do their work. They are to do their work even when the master is away. Master does go behind the worker. He has his own work to do or functions to attend. Master is not the supervisor of the workers. Master’s return is not known to the workers. When the master returns he should also find his workers doing their work diligently.

Being awake and aware of what is happening around and doing the work diligently even when the master is away are the qualities expected of workers. These qualities are need especially when the servants do not know about the return of the master or the arrival of the thief. Son of Man does not behave like the thief or the master who does inform about this arrival rather the servants are to be awake and aware of what is happening around and they should be diligent.