The parable of the wise and foolish virgins is one of the most encouraging in the entire Bible. But it does raise some questions. In the parable, Jesus talks about ten virgins who are to take part in a wedding fest. All ten possess a lamp – a lamp to illuminate the path to their destination of the wedding banquet. But in the end only five enter the feast. The others hear the most terrible words possible from their Lord- “I do not know you”.

Who are these wise and foolish virgins? One of the most potent symbols in both the Old and New Testaments is that of light overcoming darkness. On the first day of creation, we read: “God said: Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good” (Gen 1:3). 

The ten virgins all begin the story with a lit lamp of faith. Faith is a grace given us by God. We can say that the ten virgins represent the whole Church – us, the whole community of believers to whom the gift of faith has been given. We, like the virgins, begin with that flame brightly burning.

Then night falls. Our little lamps seem tiny against the powers of darkness. Attention is needed to keep the light of faith burning. Wicks need adjustment. The light needs oil carefully prepared.  Preserving and growing faith requires time and attention. 

The night is dark and the bridegroom long delayed. Excited anticipation turns to doubt, even to fear. Will He ever arrive? Will the night ever end? The promise of the heavenly feast seems far away and tenuous.

In these cold, dark days of autumn the days become shorter and shorter as the light fades. The cold and darkness of the natural world are a symbol of the cold and dark that surrounds us as we think of the deficit of faith that fills the world and even our own spirits at times, a lack of faith that leads to suffering and want. 

The virgins fall asleep. Eventually so will we. Someday we too will fall asleep, asleep most likely still waiting for the return of the Lord. 

And he will return. His return is long delayed, or so it seems to us. How long oh Lord? We will one day awaken to the cry: “Behold He comes! Come out and meet him!”.

On that glorious day will our lamps be lit, well-tended, full of oil so we can praise the of the Lord, the just judge who brings light to a darkened world?  Will we recognize the Lord, and he us, or will we hear those awful words: I do not know you? 

Perhaps, in this day of modern conveniences, we have forgotten how to care for an oil lamp. No matter. Ask for the wisdom to care for your faith. We heard in the first reading that wisdom is readily found by those who seek her. (Wisdom 6:12). Wisdom hastens to make herself known. Pray for the wisdom needed to strengthen your faith every day and every hour. Ask the Lord to fill your soul with the light of his glory. 

Faith is a relationship, a relationship with Jesus. Prayer is a conversation with the Lord and the most important thing we can do to nurture our relationship with him. Prayer is the oil that feeds the lamp of faith. 

There is more. Avoid attachment to the things of the world, this world where it seems the winds of chaos and hatred blow at hurricane strength. Protect your lamp and keep the flame strong so that it grows ever stronger. Attend to the sacraments, the surest means the Lord has given us to guard and strengthen our light of faith.

I said earlier that the parable of the wise and foolish virgins is one of the most encouraging in the entire Bible. The parable shows us that our place at the heavenly feast has already been reserved for us. Each of us has been given all we need to light our path to the heavenly banquet. It is up to us to nurture the light, our faith, our relationship with Jesus now, in this life, before we fall asleep. Do not surrender to the dark. Trust that the darkness is not the end. There is still time to prepare. Someday soon the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven.  (Thessalonians 4:16) 

Dark will be forever vanquished and the Bridegroom will invite us into eternal banquet of the Reign of God.