Five of them were foolish, and five were sensible. The careless bridesmaids took their
lamps as they were, and did not take extra oil. But those who were sensible, took flasks
of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom delayed, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.
But at midnight, a cry rang out, ‘The bridegroom is here, come out and meet him!’
All the maidens woke up at once, and trimmed their lamps. Then the foolish ones said
to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some oil, for our lamps are going out.’ The sensible ones
answered, ‘There may not be enough for us and for you. You had better go to those
who sell, and buy some for yourselves.’ When the bridegroom came, the foolish maidens
were out buying oil, but those who were ready went with him into the wedding feast, and
the doors were shut. Later the other bridesmaids arrived and called out, ‘Lord, Lord,
open to us!’ But he answered, ‘Truly I do not know you.’ So stay awake, for you do not
know the day nor the hour.

Reflect

“Stay awake.” The fifth and last discourse in Matthew’s Gospel is known as the
eschatological discourse (cf. Mt. 24–25). This eschatological discourse speaks of the last
things. It also describes the kingdom of heaven in the end of times. Matthew 24–25 also
constitute the Matthean little apocalypse (cf. Mk. 13; Lk. 21), which actually tells not about
the end in the terminal sense but as a period that ushers a new epoch. Today’s Gospel,
which narrates the parable of ten virgins, belongs to this fifth discourse. The kingdom
of heaven will be like the story of the ten bridesmaids who were invited to wait for the
bridegroom. Five were wise while five were foolish. The five sensible ones brought with
them flasks of oil together with their lamps during their time of waiting. The five careless
ones brought their lamps but did not bring extra oil with them. The bridegroom’s arrival was
delayed. The bridegroom arrived when the careless maidens were out, buying oil.
The sensible ones went with the bridegroom into the wedding feast. The door was
shut. We are called to emulate the wise virgins ever ready to welcome the bridegroom,
Jesus Christ, into our life.

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