The “wisdom of vigilance” is the theme of today’s liturgy, and to convey it, Our Lord uses the imagery of a wedding feast. In our Lord’s time, the whole community participated in a wedding. It was an “open house” celebration that lasted about a week. The newlyweds did not go on a honeymoon but remained at home. The festivities would begin when the groom and his entourage made their way to the bride’s house, taking the longest route in order to greet as many well-wishers as possible. This would often delay his arrival. Today, it’s the bride who often arrives late, but in Jesus’ time, the groom arrived late. When the bride’s attendants caught sight of the groom coming, they would rush out with lighted lamps to lead him to the feast.
Our Lord focuses on those attendants—ten virgins—five were wise because they were prepared with sufficient oil in their lamps. Five were foolish—unprepared, making no provision for their task. Here Our Lord illustrates the need for us to be wise, to be vigilant, ready for his return at the end of time and for that moment when he calls us from this earthly life. He is the bridegroom who arrives at a time we do not know.
Let’s not be deceived in thinking that we have more than enough time to put our spiritual lives in order, to make amends with others, to do good, to get to that confession, so long put off. The enemy of vigilance is procrastination. Procrastination is like a credit card. It’s fine until you get the bill.
Today’s Gospel is a spiritual “wake-up call” but we often hit the “snooze button” and roll over…just a little more time, Lord! Pope Francis put it bluntly: “It is a matter of not waiting until the last minute of our lives to cooperate with the grace of God…It would be good to consider…one day will be our last. If it were today, how prepared am I?”
There is another lesson to glean from the parable. The foolish virgins, panicked, and pleaded to the others: “Give us, some of your oil.” Their plea was refused: “NO…go out and buy some for yourselves.” Were the wise virgins just looking out for themselves? Were they uncharitable? Shouldn’t they have helped them? I think not. The groom was to be welcomed as he deserved—better five bright lamps than ten dim lamps.
The truth is that each of us must have our own oil. Each person’s path is singular and we must provide for ourselves, Each person is responsible, each accountable for his or her spiritual life. There are just some things that cannot be borrowed. There are just some things that others cannot do for us. Our Lord is reminding us that we cannot live on the spiritual capital that others have amassed.
At the pearly gates, we cannot say to St. Peter, “You’ve got to let me in, my grandmother was a daily communicant, my father volunteered untold hours at the Mt. Carmel Guild, or I went to Catholic school from Kindergarten through college. (Well, yes, a Jesuit college, but still…)” Grandma’s devotion can inspire but it cannot be borrowed. Let each of us be prepared, cultivating and being responsible for our own spiritual life.
