Reflection on the Scriptures Thirty-second Sunday Gospel A

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.

This parable is found only in Matthew.

The point of the parable is foresight and vigilance.

Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 

According to tradition, there was a solemn wedding procession from the house of the                      bride to the house of the groom; the taking of the bride to the home of the bridegroom was the symbolic act of marriage.

At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

          The wedding ceremonies were held at night, and the bridal couple was accompanied by                  torches and lamps.

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.'

          The five foolish did not have foresight to be prepared for a long delay.

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.'

This last statement is one we would not want God to address to us. Not to know us is                      tantamount to everlasting alienation from God.

Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

           How ready am I for the coming of the Lord?