The 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 12, 2023

Matthew 25, 1–13

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.”

The Lord’s Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins centers around the question of whether you and I will have sufficient faith and grace at the end of our lives on earth and at the Last Judgment to be saved.  The question also arise as to the uncertainty we will entertain at the end.  This uncertainty profits us, however, for it motivates us to grow more in faith and grace.

“The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”  The wise and the foolish, the virtuous and the sinners, are all invited to take part in the wedding feast of the Lamb, but “many are called but few are chosen” (Matthew 22, 14), that is, few will accept the invitation and of those who accept it, few will carry out the easy duty required  of them (cf. Matthew 22, 12).  But everyone gets a chance.  

“The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.”  One wonders why a young woman would accept the invitation and the honor of lighting the way for the bride and the groom but not take the measures necessary to do this.  This is why they are called “foolish”.  Perhaps laziness, perhaps presumption in thinking they had enough oil.  It all amounts to contempt for the bride and the groom.  The “oil” here is the merit God attributes to us for the good deeds we do through the help of his grace.  It is as though these foolish Christians — “bridesmaids” — thought to themselves that they had done enough and could take the rest of their lives off.  But what the true Christian’s does is for the Lord first and foremost, and out of love for him.  We can never do enough to show love to the one we love.

“The bridegroom was long delayed,”  Or so it seemed to the foolish bridesmaids.  From the perspective of the Lord, he comes in his good time and has no need to consult us.  “They all became drowsy and fell asleep.”  That is, the bridesmaids were susceptible to human weakness and limitations and so relaxed their vigilance.  The foolish bridesmaids chose to sleep and the side struggled to keep awake but eventually succumbed.  Nevertheless, they were prepared.  

“Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!”  This is the great shout at the end of our lives and st the end of time.  The foolish and wicked shall panic and the wise and faithful will rejoice.  “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.”  But the merit of one is not transferable to another, anymore than guilt is.  This may have been the backup plan for the foolish bridesmaids all along.  “Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.”  The wise bridesmaids speak ironically here for the time of preparation is over.  There will be no time for repentance or for doing good deeds at the time the Lord comes: “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.”  The foolish virgins return to the house with now useless oil.  We might wonder why they bother returning.  It is because the alternative for them is shame and suffering in the darkness outside where “there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13 42) — the wailing due to the pains of hell and the gnashing of teeth in bitter remorse at how they through their salvation away.

Every day, every hour, is our day and hour to do the will of Almighty God.