Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/668

 “Then shall  the  kingdom  of  heaven  be  like  to  ten  virgins, who, taking  their  lamps,  went  out  to  meet  the  bridegroom  and the bride. And five  of  them  were  foolish,  and  five  were  wise. But the five  foolish,  having  taken  their  lamps,  took  no  oil  with  them; but the  wise  took  oil  in  their  vessels  with  the  lamps. While the bridegroom tarried  they  all  slumbered  and  slept. And at  midnight there was  a cry  made:  ‘Behold,  the  bridegroom  cometh;  go  ye forth  to  meet  him!’  Then  all  those  virgins  arose  and  trimmed their lamps. And the  foolish  said  to  the  wise:  ‘Give  us  of  your oil, for  our  lamps  are  gone  out.’  The  wise  answered,  saying: ‘Lest there  be  not  enough  for  us  and  for  you,  go  you,  rather,  to them  that  sell,  and  buy  for  yourselves.’

“Now, while  they  went  to  buy,  the  bridegroom  came,  and they who  were  ready  went  in  with  him  to  the  marriage,  and  the door was  shut. But at  last  came  also  the  other  virgins,  saying: ‘Lord, Lord,  open  to  us!’  But  he,  answering,  said:  ‘Amen,  I say to you,  I know  you  not.’  Watch  ye,  therefore,  because  ye  know not the  day  nor  the  hour.”

The necessity  of  good  works.  The  ten  virgins  represent  the  faithful in general. The bridegroom  is  our  Lord:  the  marriage-feast  is  everlasting happiness:  the  arrival  of  the  bridegroom  signifies  the  judgment, both the  particular  judgment  after  death,  and  the  general  judgment  at the  end  of  time. It is  the  duty  of  all  the  faithful  to  be  ever  expecting the arrival  of  the  Divine  Bridegroom,  who  will  come  to  take  his  own servants to  the  heavenly  banquet. We must  be  ready  to  go  with  him at any  time  or  moment. The wise  virgins  are  those  Christians  who