The parable of the ten bridesmaids is another that occurs only in the gospel of Matthew. It speaks of people who are already believers but, like us, are awaiting the fulfilment of the kingdom of heaven represented by the return of the Bridegroom. What draws my attention is that the wise bridesmaids so to the foolish who ask them for oil: "No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go the dealers and buy some for yourselves." (Mtt 25: 9) This reminds me of a maxim I heard a long time ago from Jan Heath, a lay evangelist, who said: "God does not have grandchildren, he only has children." So often I see grandparents doing their best to inculcate the Catholic faith in their grandchildren while their own children are apathetic if not worse. Certainly, we can support others and encourage them to accept the gift of faith or the obligations that they have subscribed to however the decisions of faith remain theirs. It is not possible for us to make up for the lack in another's faith. We, who practice our faith, cannot supply for those who do not nor should we be co-dependent on them. The challenge is for us, as missionary disciples, to walk alongside them and communicate the joy of the gospel to those who struggle to have a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that transforms our lives. At the same time we need to make sure that our own lamps do not go out for lack of the oil of faith such that we, at the end of time, will be counted among the foolish who hear from the Bridegroom: "Truly I tell you, I do not know you." (Mtt 25: 13)
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