In this week’s lectionary gospel passage, Jesus tells a rather stern parable about having enough oil on hand to keep lamps lit for a late-arriving bridegroom. His tone seems unusually harsh -- though in many other instances Jesus counsels those with plenty to share their resources with those in need, here we are told that the foolish who haven’t trimmed their lamps and who have run short on oil cannot count on assistance from others; instead, they’ll have to obtain more on their own.