**The Parable of the Ten Virgins: A Tale of Preparedness and Vigilance**
In the days when Jesus walked the earth, teaching and revealing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, He often spoke in parables to His disciples and the crowds that gathered to hear Him. One such parable was told on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, as the sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows over the land. The air was thick with anticipation, for the people sensed that Jesus was about to reveal something profound.
Jesus began, “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” His voice carried the weight of eternity, and the crowd leaned in, captivated by His words. “Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.”
The scene unfolded in the minds of His listeners. Ten young women, dressed in their finest garments, stood at the edge of a village, their lamps flickering softly in the gathering dusk. They were waiting for the bridegroom, who was coming to lead them to a great wedding feast. This was a moment of joy and celebration, a time when the entire community would rejoice together.
The five wise virgins had brought extra oil for their lamps, carefully stored in small flasks tied to their belts. They knew the bridegroom might be delayed, and they wanted to be ready no matter how long the wait. Their faces were calm, their hearts steady, for they had prepared for this moment with diligence and foresight.
The five foolish virgins, however, had brought only their lamps, with no extra oil. They laughed and chatted among themselves, confident that the bridegroom would arrive soon. “Why carry more oil than we need?” they reasoned. “Surely, he will come before our lamps burn out.” Their carefree attitude masked a deeper lack of preparation, a failure to consider the possibility of delay.
As the night deepened, the stars emerged, twinkling like distant lanterns in the vast expanse of the sky. The virgins waited, their lamps casting a warm glow around them. But the bridegroom did not come. Hours passed, and the air grew cooler. The virgins began to grow weary, their eyelids heavy with sleep. One by one, they drifted into slumber, their lamps still burning faintly.
Suddenly, at midnight, a cry rang out: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him!” The sound jolted the virgins awake. They sprang to their feet, their hearts pounding with excitement. The time had finally come! But as they reached for their lamps, the foolish virgins realized with horror that their oil was nearly gone. The flames sputtered and flickered, threatening to die out.
“Give us some of your oil,” they pleaded with the wise virgins, their voices tinged with desperation. “Our lamps are going out!”
But the wise virgins shook their heads sadly. “No,” they replied, “there may not be enough for both us and you. Go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.”
The foolish virgins hesitated, torn between the urgency of the moment and the impossibility of their task. How could they find oil at this late hour? The village was asleep, the streets dark and silent. But they had no choice. They hurried away, their footsteps echoing in the stillness, as the wise virgins trimmed their lamps and prepared to meet the bridegroom.
While the foolish virgins were gone, the bridegroom arrived. He came with great fanfare, accompanied by his friends and attendants. The sound of music and laughter filled the air as the procession made its way to the wedding feast. The wise virgins joined the celebration, their lamps shining brightly, their hearts full of joy.
When the foolish virgins returned, their flasks now filled with oil, they found the door to the feast already shut. They knocked urgently, calling out, “Lord, lord, open the door for us!”
But the bridegroom replied, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.”
The words struck like a dagger, piercing their hearts with sorrow and regret. They had missed their chance, not because they were unwelcome, but because they had failed to prepare. The door remained closed, and the sounds of the feast drifted out to them, a bittersweet reminder of what they had lost.
Jesus concluded the parable with a solemn warning: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” His words hung in the air, a call to vigilance and readiness. The kingdom of heaven, He was saying, is not for the careless or the complacent. It is for those who are prepared, who keep their lamps trimmed and burning, who live each day in anticipation of His coming.
The crowd dispersed, their minds heavy with the weight of His teaching. Some pondered their own preparedness, while others dismissed the story as mere fiction. But for those with ears to hear, the message was clear: the time to prepare is now, for the bridegroom is coming, and only those who are ready will enter the feast.
