Parable of the Ten Virgins Matt. 25:1-13

Read Matt. 25:1-6. In this parable, we read about ten women who were waiting for the bridegroom to come to the feast.  Some of them had prepared and some had not.  It mattered greatly whether they had filled their lamps. The meaning is profound. What’s in the lamp, is she prepared or not?  The oil is the Holy Spirit.  Just having a lamp is not enough. The wise women keep their lamps filled, for they know the wait will be long. Again, note that they all fell asleep, foolish and wise alike. But the wise were prepared.

Meditation 1:  We hear about the lamps; some had oil, but some did not.  What do you think the oil represents and what does this mean to you?

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This parable is about the coming of our Bridegroom, Jesus. Those who have oil in their lamps still have to prepare—they trim their wicks to make the lights burn brighter. 

Meditation 2: See verse 6-7. The women who had oil still had to trim their wicks to make their lights burn brighter. What does this mean to you?  

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Read Matt. 25: 8-13. The primary focus of the story is on the virgins who did not have enough oil, and they had to go buy more.  They were unprepared and had waited too long. They begged the other women for oil, but there was not enough to share. Notice that Jesus did not chastise the women who did not share their oil. This is very telling. Each of us is responsible for our own lamp. The unprepared virgins had to leave the group to go and prepare. 

Meditation 3: The foolish women had to leave the banquet to go fill their lamps.  They were unprepared.  In what ways might you be unprepared if the Lord came right now?

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Soon, each one of us may be out of oil if we are not careful. Sometimes we can find willing people who will give us some of their oil, to refill us when we need it the most. But as all of us know, there comes a point when we're giving away all that we have. We need to encourage and exhort those around us to keep their lamps full, and to pray for all believers, including ourselves, that we may never run out.  

The foolish women were left behind when the door was closed. His reply, “I don’t know you,” means that they did not have their lamps burning brightly with the oil of the Holy Spirit. This parable has a profound meaning for all of us who await our King.

Meditation 4: What about this parable really speaks to your heart?

PREFACE OF MASS OF HOLY VIRGINS AND RELIGIOUS 

For in the Saints who consecrated themselves to Christ

for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven,

it is right to celebrate the wonders of

of Your providence,

by which You call human nature back

 to its original holiness,

and bring it to experience on this earth

the gifts you promise 

in the new world to come.

(https://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english5/p03371.htm) 

Praying with the Word: Lord Jesus, our blessed Bridegroom, pray for us. Grant us understanding of this great parable. Help us to know what it means to keep our lamps full of oil. Help us to know where to find the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep our light burning, and how to prepare our lamps so they burn most brightly.  Most of all, dear Jesus, help us to be ever- vigilant and waiting for Your return. We pray this in Your Holy Name. Amen.