Stay awake for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come. Known as the parable of the ten virgins, today’s Gospel passage is part of Jesus’ final discourse in Matthew’s Gospel in which he focuses on the last things, particularly the final judgment. Borrowing heavily from apocalyptic literature which Matthew’s audience must have been familiar with, the final discourse is characterized by exhortations and warnings about the end times. At the final judgment, according to apocalyptic literature, there are two things that will take place: the wicked will be condemned while the righteous will join the host of angels who live eternally with God. The exhortations and warnings that Jesus uses in the final discourse were therefore not meant to scare his listeners but rather to encourage perpetual preparedness through righteous living.
The preparedness about which Jesus exhorts his disciples is nothing other than “having enough oil” to keep our lamps burning. Although the five “foolish” virgins were aware that the bridegroom was on his way coming and that they had been privileged to be among his welcoming party, they did not take into account the unpredictability of a wedding entourage. Their lack of foresight ended up becoming their undoing, for before the groom could make his way to the place where they were waiting for him, their lamps ran out of oil. Their unpreparedness made them to miss out on an occasion for which they had waited for the entirety of their lives.
At baptism, one of the three actions performed that constitute what is called the “explanatory rite” is the reception of a lighted candle by the newly baptized. And as the candle is handed to the baptized, the minister reminds the baptized that the flame of faith symbolized by the lighted candle must be kept alive until the coming of the Lord. The light is kept alive by walking in the light of the Lord even as one is guided by the teachings of the Lord. As recipients of the light of Christ at our baptism, we have been granted the privileged status as bridesmaids of the groom. Ours is a privilege that allows us to accompany the groom to the banquet table (in heaven) so that we can rejoice and be merry in his presence for ever.