The parable of the ten virgins is one of the parables best known and studied in the context of the teachings of Jesus. The kingdom of God is a dilemma, people are judged by their decisions: The virgins came out to meet the bridegroom, five foolish and five wise. Jesus explains to us that the providence of God, that is, the divine prudence that disposes of everything, is a mystery; and that, faced with this mystery, people have to make decisions. The kingdom of God establishes rewards and punishments.
The bridegroom is late to arrive, and this makes necessary a time to prepare. The lamps and the oil represent the interior light that is the product of the works of mercy, of piety. Difficulties are present to demonstrate what is within us.
If our interior light is brief, of appearances and superficial then it lacks constancy and goes out, the oil runs out soon and there is no more to feed that lamp; this is what happens to the foolish virgins.
On the other hand, if our works of mercy have constancy and depth, we are like the wise virgins who keep the oil necessary for the arrival of the bridegroom.
Only those who have constancy, that is, those who fear God are pleasing to him. Understanding the role of the gift of fear of God or piety, in the parable is key to its interpretation. The fear of God is constancy, firmness, devotion, equanimity, stability.
"At that time 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 took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: ´Here' s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!´
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ´Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out´
´No´, they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy for yourselves.´
"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Late the others also came. ´Lord, Lord´, they said, ´open the door for us!´
But he replied, ´Truly I tell you, I don't know you.´
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25:1-13.
The bible always reminds us of the importance of light, like in Daniel 2:22...
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