Share Your Oil! Changing Our Perspective from Win-Lose to Abundance

Jesus Unmasked

In the first podcast after the election, the lectionary gives us the perfect challenging text! The parable of the 10 Bridesmaids (Matthew 25: 1-13) appears to be about being prepared for anything – a good lesson for turbulent times in the wake of the 2020 election! But there’s much more to the parable than might first meet the eye!

Lindsey and Adam examine this difficult parable. Who is the bridegroom, and if it’s Jesus, would he really slam the door on the “foolish” bridesmaids who fail to bring oil for their lamps? Would the Jesus who multiplied loaves and fishes condone the “wise” bridesmaids’ refusal to share?

There are different ways to interpret this parable, but if it ever looks like the “Christ figure” of a parable is harsh and unforgiving, then either it’s not the Christ figure, or something beyond conventional wisdom is going on.

In the end, we’re called to ask ourselves: Do we see life through a lens of winners vs. losers, fend for yourself at the expense of others, some are in and some are out? Or are we being pressed to imagine a better way?

We end with a prayer for our nation and world as we seek to apply this wisdom to our lives in the wake of this turbulent election.