Reading
Matthew 25:1-13
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Comment
The parable of the ten virgins expresses the importance of being ready for Christ's return, even if it lags behind our expectations.
In Jewish marriage, the bridegroom accompanies the bride in procession from the paternal house to him. The ceremony takes place at night.
Comparing this parable with that of the wise man and the foolish man (Mt 7:24-26), in which the distinctive element between the two is the presence or absence of good deeds, these could be represented in the parable of the virgins from the oil of the lamps.
Christ is the light that comes into the world (Jn 1:9), his word shines in the darkness, and those who make it their own shine like light before men (Mt 5:16). If we have faith we cannot be afraid to go through the nights of our life.
Left without oil, foolish virgins ask wise virgins for some, but they cannot give them any; in fact, everyone will be judged for himself: the just will live by his faith (Rom 1:17).
The call of the foolish virgins left outside the door, recalls the words of Jesus “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Mt 7:21). The very conclusion of this parable, "I do not know you", presents words similar to the previous passage in Matthew's Gospel: "I never knew you, depart from me, you workers of iniquity" (Mt 7:23).
The Lord comes, but we know neither the day nor the hour (v. 13). Let our lives burn, nourished by the precious oil of his Word; so that like the bride of the Canticle we can affirm "I sleep, but my heart is awake" (Ct 5,2); welcoming also the words of the apostle Paul: "whether we are awake or asleep, let us live together with him" (1 Thes 5:10).
Prayer
O Lord, we wish to join you in the nuptial bond of faith. The light of your Word guides us to your home. Amen.
