Fr Marco Lazzaron
e hear in today’s Gospel: “At midnight there was a cry: the Bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him”. But will we be ready to welcome Him?
In the parable of the ten virgins, five are wise and five are foolish. Interestingly, all ten become tired and fall asleep. The difference is not that some remain awake while others do not, but that the wise ones have brought extra oil for their lamps.
The oil represents the love that keeps our faith alive and sustains our relationship with Christ. A lamp without oil cannot give light. In the same way, we can go to Church, know our prayers and fulfil our religious duties, but still have a faith that has lost its “light”.
But, then, how do we keep our lamps burning? Through prayer, listening to God’s Word, celebrating the Eucharist, receiving His forgiveness in Confession and showing concrete love towards those around us. Every act of forgiveness, every gesture of charity, and every step towards reconciliation becomes an expression of our response to God’s love.
The encounter with the Bridegroom cannot be improvised at the last moment. We cannot postpone our conversion indefinitely, thinking that there will always be time tomorrow.
This parable is not meant to frighten us with the thought of death. It is an invitation to live today with our hearts turned towards the Lord. Perhaps we should ask ourselves: Is there someone I need to forgive? Have I neglected prayer? Is there something in my life that I need to change? Am I allowing Jesus to enter into my everyday life?
We are not simply waiting for the end of the world or the end of our lives. We are waiting for Someone: Jesus Christ, who has already come, who comes to meet us today, and who will come again in glory. And this changes everything. Even when life is difficult, we know where we are going. We are walking towards an encounter of love, towards the great wedding feast of the Lamb.
The Bridegroom is coming! Let us keep our lamps burning and go out to meet Him!