‘No man has more than enough holiness to himself’ – John Wesley

Jesus Christ is coming again! This is the core message of the Parable of the ten virgins. A parable is a brief earthly story that speaks and teaches eternal lessons. God is calling the church and all who believe in Jesus Christ to constantly examine our own spiritual condition in the light of Christ’s coming at an unknown and unexpected time. The parable of the ten virgins appears only in Matthew’s Gospel and it points us toward Advent, ‘the time to wake up again and renew all those vows of readiness and repentance, acceptance and surrender.’

The parable of the ten virgins also calls us in this age of coronavirus pandemic to encourage ourselves in the light of Christ’s Second Coming. The pandemic has led to unprecedented hazards to mental health globally, anxiety, depression, and stress. Living in place and time of pandemic calls us to respond to responsibilities at hand. God is saying, we should not fear the dark rather we should keep our lamps, trimmed and burning.

The faithful and unfaithful virgins were taken by surprise at the bridegroom’s coming. The challenge is that, remaining faithful and staying ready for Christ’s return as a Christian takes persistence and dedication. St Augustine explained that both the wise and the foolish virgins were members of the church, but that the wise maidens, the one with oil in their lamps – were the members of the church who remained faithful – in obedience and ‘enduring love for God. The foolish maidens were those who were interested primarily in mere appearance, and they were even foolish enough to believe that works of charity could be purchased. They were foolish mainly then, because they believed that the appearance of charity was all the Lord, required, rather than remaining faithful to the enduring love for God.’

The faithful and the unfaithful, that is, both the prepared and unprepared virgins, the wise and the foolish “fell asleep.” “They all slumbered” but only the faithful wise virgins had the necessary oil when they needed it. The reflection is that, if we are spiritually wise and prepared, we can be at peace and enjoy rest in life. The faithful wise virgins are with disposition ‘more like a gardener who knows that winter’s dark delay is not only necessary but rewarded,’ while the unfaithful foolish virgins ‘expect an immediate response.’ The parable of the ten virgins calls us to question the relationship between our liturgical lives in the light of Christ’s Second Coming at an unknown and unexpected time.  The parable of the ten virgins calls us as faithful and wise virgins to a permanent Advent quality to Christian life, a call to wake up and renew our vows of repentance, readiness and surrender to Jesus Christ.

The oil in the parable represents true faith and constant presence of the Holy Spirit. To remain faithful as wise virgins goes beyond works and appearance of charity. God requires obedience which is better than charity and sacrifice. Beloved, a day is coming when there will be no more second chances to do certain things or to cease doing others. God is calling you to keep your lamps trimmed and burning, the time is drawing night. The days of waiting, pandemic and darkness will soon be over, the light is drawing nigh.

Let us prayerfully sing this song together:

Verse 1

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning 

Give me oil in my lamp, I pray 

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning 

Keep me burning ’til the break of day 

Chorus

Sing hosanna, sing hosanna 

Sing hosanna to the King of Kings 

Sing hosanna, sing hosanna 

Sing hosanna to the King of Kings 

Verse 2

Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising 

Give me joy in my heart, I pray 

Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising 

Keep me praising ’til the break of day 

 Chorus 

Verse 3

Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting 

Give me peace in my heart, I pray 

Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting 

Keep me resting ’til the break of day 

Chorus 

Verse 4

Give me love in my heart, keep me serving 

Give me love in my heart, I pray 

Give me love in my heart, keep me serving 

Keep me serving ’til the break of day 

 Chorus