Jesus told his disciples this parable: "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." (Matthew 25:1-13)
This reading from Matthew reminds me of a well-known story: Once upon a time there was a little red hen who lived on a farm. Early one morning she woke up and went outside. There she found some corn. “Who will help me plant the corn?” said the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the bull.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Not I,” said the rat.
“Oh very well, I’ll do it myself,” said the little red hen – and so she did!
“Who will help me water the corn?” said the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the bull.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Not I,” said the rat.
“Oh very well, I’ll do it myself,” said the little red hen – and so she did!
“Who will help me cut the corn?” said the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the bull.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Not I,” said the rat.
“Oh very well, I’ll do it myself,” said the little red hen – and so she did!
“Who will help me carry the corn to the mill?” said the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the bull.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Not I,” said the rat.
“Oh very well, I’ll do it myself,” said the little red hen – and so she did!
“Who will help me grind the corn?” said the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the bull.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Not I,” said the rat.
“Oh very well, I’ll do it myself,” said the little red hen – and so she did!
“Who will help me knead the bread?” said the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the bull.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Not I,” said the rat.
“Oh very well, I’ll do it myself,” said the little red hen – and so she did!
“Who will help me bake the bread?” said the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the bull.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Not I,” said the rat.
“Oh very well, I’ll do it myself,” said the little red hen – and so she did!
“Who will help me eat the bread?” said the little red hen.
“I will,” said the bull.
“I will,” said the cat.
“I will,” said the rat.
“Oh no you won’t. I’ll eat it myself,” said the little red hen – and so she did.
Some might say the little red hen was unfair and should have let the bull, cat, and rat eat the bread. In this case, it is safe to say life is not unfair. We receive that which we deserve through our hard work, preparation, and persistence, like the wise virgins. Of course, charity is important, but giving bread to these three slackers is not charity. It is abetting laziness and selfishness.
Teamwork is important, and through cooperation life becomes easier. Fairness results when we treat others as we wish to be treated. That prevents tears from crying.
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