Remaining Faithful
The story Jesus tells about ten girls is based on the marriage custom of his time. The girls were wedding attendants. All were waiting for the groom to arrive, but they fell asleep. Five wise girls had extra oil, but five foolish did not.
Jesus teaches that we must be sure our commitment to him—the bridegroom—is great enough that we continue to be faithful until his coming.
The faithful are always prepared.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Matthew 25: 1-13
The kingdom of heaven is like what happened one night when ten girls took their oil lamps and went to a wedding to meet the groom.
Five of the girls were foolish, and five were wise.
The foolish ones took their lamps, but no extra oil.
The ones who were wise took along extra oil for their lamps.
The groom was late arriving, and the girls became drowsy and fell asleep.
Then in the middle of the night, someone shouted, “Here’s the groom! Come to meet him!”
When the girls got up and started getting their lamps ready, the foolish ones said to the others, “Let us have some of your oil! Our lamps are going out.”
The girls who were wise answered, “There’s not enough oil for all of us! Go and buy some for yourselves.”
While the foolish girls were on their way to get some oil, the groom arrived. The girls who were ready went into the wedding, and the doors were closed. Later the other girls returned and shouted, “Sir, sir! Open the door for us!” But the groom replied, “I don’t even know you!”
So, my disciples, always be ready! You don’t know the day or the time when all this will happen.
