“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the groom and the bride.
But five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
For the five foolish, having brought their lamps, did not take oil with them.
Yet truly, the prudent ones brought the oil, in their containers, with the lamps.
Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep, and they were sleeping.
But in the middle of the night, a cry went out: ‘Behold, the groom is arriving. Go out to meet him.’
Then all those virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps.
But the foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give to us from your oil, for our lamps are being extinguished.’
The prudent responded by saying, ‘Lest perhaps there may not be enough for us and for you, it would be better for you to go to the vendors and buy some for yourselves.’
But while they were going to buy it, the groom arrived. And those who were prepared entered with him to the wedding, and the door was closed.
Yet truly, at the very end, the remaining virgins also arrived, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
But he responded by saying, ‘Amen I say to you, I do not know you.’
And so you must be vigilant, because you do not know the day or the hour.
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Prayer on Fire Gospel Lesson
The kingdom is like ten virgins who took lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five were foolish and took no oil. Five were wise and took flasks. The bridegroom is delayed. All sleep. At midnight the cry comes. The foolish ask for oil and are sent to buy. The door is shut.
Where this sits
This is the first of three judgment parables in Matthew 25, in the last week, after the discourse on the end.
The delay
The crisis is not the delay. All of them sleep. The crisis is arriving unprepared after a long wait. Oil cannot be borrowed at midnight. Readiness is not transferable. The shut door is the end of the negotiation.
What to take
Stay awake does not mean never sleep. It means do not arrive at the cry with an empty lamp. No one else can supply what you did not bring.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Gospel of the Day · Text: Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV) · Mass Lectionary · Gospel