“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”- St. Matthew 25:13
As we come closer to the beginning of Advent we hear our Lord’s parable about the coming of a bridegroom, and the importance of being ready to greet him on his arrival. As is the case with all of Christ’s parables, His meaning is deeper and more consequential than the simple telling of a story. We know this bridegroom is Christ Himself, and His arrival marks the end times and the final establishment of God’s Kingdom.
The parable advises us to have oil for our lamps; namely, to be always ready for the coming of the Lord – and not just on the Last Day, but always, in ways we do not expect and at various times throughout our lives. The foolish virgins failed to anticipate when and how the Bridegroom would come, and so they were unprepared and were left behind.
Too often our attention is captivated by all kinds of concerns and worries, causing us to miss what is truly important. We overlook the presence of Christ in our daily lives, in the people around us, and in our ordinary activities. How often we might be face to face with Christ through some circumstance, but we fail to recognize Him, and so miss the opportunity to love and serve Him.
It was Saint Augustine who said, “Beware of the grace of God that passes and does not return.” We need to pray for the gift of discernment, so that we might perceive God’s presence in the ordinary things of each day. Our faith must help us to be ready and always watching for Christ, who comes to us daily and who prepares us for the eternal wedding feast which is His heavenly Kingdom.
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Painting: "The Parable of Wise and Foolish Virgins"
by Peter von Cornelius (1783–1867)