「燈油」象徵天主的恩寵嗎？ Does “Oil” symbolize God’s grace?

「燈油」象徵天主的恩寵嗎？（瑪25:1-13）

傳統上，我們把「燈油」解釋為「恩寵」。但這個過份簡單的解釋，會引起很多毛病！
倘若「燈油」真的象徵「恩寵」，那些明智的童女（瑪25:4），便可以輕易地解釋為臨終時擁有足夠恩寵的信徒，死後可以順利地與主耶穌基督進入天堂；那些沒有的，自然就是臨終時沒有恩寵的信徒，死後便被耶穌基督拒諸天堂門外了。臨終時沒有恩寵怎麼辦？按明智童女的意見，到「賣油的那裡去，為自己買吧！」（25:9）這樣解釋看來漂亮，殊不知問題開始浮現了！

首先，自己擁有的恩寵，真的不可以分給別人嗎？即使「恩寵」真的不能分給別人，但為甚麼明智的童女不去幫助糊塗的童女買「恩寵」呢？這樣顯得她們有點自私！倘若我們真的不能為別人求恩寵，那麼我們所相信的「諸聖相通功」，我們為生者死者及罪人祈禱，豈不是白費心機嗎？所以，就憑「諸聖相通功」的道理，我們肯定可以把恩寵「過戶」給缺乏恩寵的人。

第二個問題便來了，那裡是「賣油」，即是「賣恩寵」的地方呢？小心！是教會嗎？濫用「贖罪券」觀念所帶來的教訓，相信大家不會忘記吧！教會是明智的，否則她便重犯壟斷天主救恩的錯誤，否定了天主至高無上的地位！所以把「燈油」解釋為「恩寵」，是很有問題的！

新郎怎樣說？祂對糊塗的童女說：「我不認識妳們。」（25:12）原來問題根本不在於糊塗的童女沒有「燈油」，而在於「認識」與否！但新郎是耶穌基督，祂怎會不認識所有人呢？所以這個「不認識」，必另有外指。
我們不妨參考教宗方濟各的教導。【你們要歡喜踴躍】宗座勸諭說：「真福八端就像基督徒的身份證。」（GE #63）這是基督徒與及所有懷有善意的人的生活態度，當然不能假手於人或者分給別人！在末日審判時，君王所提出的六項「形哀矝」，並沒有教會壟斷的餘地。所以，把「燈油」象徵「真福八端」，我覺得比較妥當。
主祐大家！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：dailydevotions.blog.fc2.com

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Does “Oil” symbolize God’s grace? (Matthew 25:1-13)

Traditionally, we explain “oil” to be a symbol of “grace”. But this over-simplified explanation is problematic!
If “oil” truly symbolizes “grace”, those wise virgins (Matthew 25:4) can easily be interpreted as those faithful who die with sufficient grace to enter heaven together with Jesus Christ without any impediment. Those without “oil” are logically faithful who die without grace and shall be denied entrance into heaven. What should be done for those without grace on the dying bed? According to the opinion of the wise virgins, “Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves” (25:9) The answer looks smart but problems start to arise!

Firstly, can’t we share the grace we possess with others? Even if “graces” can’t be shared, why then don’t the wise ones help the foolish ones buy “graces”? The wise ones look selfish! If we are truly unable to obtain graces for the others, what’s our point in believing in the “communion of saints” and praying for sinners, for the living and the dead? Thus, with the truth of the “communion of saints”, we are certain that we are able to “transfer” graces to those who are in need of graces.

Then the second problem arises. Where can people “buy graces”? Beware! Is it the Church? I trust all of us won’t forget the lesson of abusing the concept of “indulgence certificates”! The Church is prudent. Otherwise, she would commit again the mistake of monopolizing God’s salvation and denial of the supreme status of God! Therefore, interpreting “oil” as a symbol of “grace” is problematic!

What does the bridegroom say? He replies, “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” (25:12) Therefore, it is not an issue of foolish virgins not having “oil”, but the bridegroom not knowing them! However, the bridegroom is Jesus Christ. How can He not know all? Therefore, this “not knowing” must mean something else.

Let’s take the cue from the teaching of Pope Francis. The apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate says, “The Beatitudes are like a Christian’s identity card.” (GE #63) This is the attitude live up by Christians and people of goodwill. Of course, this can’t be given away! At the Last Judgment, the Church has no room to monopolize the six corporal works of mercy demanded by the King. Thus, I opine that it’s better for “oil” to symbolize “the Beatitudes”.
God bless!