SAINT AUGUSTINE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (MEMORIAL)

Therefore, stay awake. 

Jesus’ parables were often deceptively simple—easy for a child to grasp, but with depths of meaning and grace that saints and mystics reveled in.   Like an onion, each parable has several layers, and peeling back one layer can reveal another meaning or lesson.

Today’s story of the ten virgins is no exception.   Jesus told this story to help people think about what it took to enter “the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 25:1).   The breaking in of that kingdom can often be unexpected, Jesus warns, and because the five foolish virgins were unprepared, they were kept from entering.

We could spend hours dissecting all the symbolism in this parable, but at its core, it conveys a simple but challenging message: always be prepared.   Never let yourself get caught without enough “oil.”

On one level, it may not seem like a big deal to forget your oil—again. Or to show up to work ten minutes late every day.   Or always to make time for watching TV but not enough time for prayer.   The habits may be deeply ingrained, but every time we give in to them, we become a little more self-centered, and our ability to love God and the people around us diminishes.

Now, we may blame our demanding boss instead of ourselves when we get in trouble for being late to work.   Or we may rationalize our lack of time for prayer.   But we can imagine the five foolish virgins failing to admit their own folly and instead blaming the five wise ones who wouldn’t share with them.   This kind of spiritual blindness and unwillingness to change can prevent us from growing closer to Jesus.

What do you need to do to keep your flask filled with oil?   Perhaps you could set your alarm a little earlier so that you are sure to have enough time to pray each morning.   Maybe you could give up one night of television each week and offer to volunteer at church.   The particulars may vary from person to person and day to day.   But what’s important is finding a way to focus your life on God so that he can keep filling you with the “oil” of his love and grace.   Because you never know when Jesus might show up!

“Jesus, help me to live a life worthy of you.”

1 Corinthians 1:17-25
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11