Recently I’ve been reflecting on the parable of the Ten Maidens and what it means to be a Christian and how we truly prepare our hearts for our own death and the Second Coming of Christ.

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:13) At the end of the parable Jesus warns us of the need to remain vigilant for we know neither the hour of our death nor the hour of His return. In the parable Jesus shows us the five wise maidens who are prepared with flask full of lamp oil, while the unwise came without any. As the bridegroom approached the wise maidens filled their lamps while the unwise went in search for oil after the wise maidens did not share any. While the unwise maidens went in search the bridegroom came and took the five wise maidens to the wedding feast. Upon returning the five unwise maidens seen that the doors to the wedding feast were locked and asked to be let in. To which our Lord responds, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” (Matthew 25:12) How terrible must it have been to hear those words from the Lord!

After reading this we might ask why were the five wise maidens so selfish not to give away some of their oil? The answer is not that the five wise maidens were selfish, but instead, could not give if they wanted to. The oil in this parable symbolizes our works in the Lord.

Can one who has works give a portion to the one who has none? The answer is no, each person must be accountable for their own oil, for filling up their flask before the unknown hours comes and the bridegroom takes us to the wedding feast.

How many times do we neglect to focus on filling our lamps and flask with oil? I know that I often fall short of my duty to keep my oil ready. I often get distracted and forget to tend the small flame of faith. We may say that we have faith but what does our profession do if we have not filled our flask with works? Scripture shows us that faith is never static, that works naturally flow from our faith.

As James says, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” (James 2:17 – 18) Faith acts through works and so often do we proclaim the faith but what is there to show?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church also states, “When it [faith] is deprived of hope and love, faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body.” (CCC 1815) This teaching from the Church reminds us that faith must move outward to be alive. Faith alone does not unite us fully to Christ, instead our faith and our works of hope and charity through the grace of God bring us fully into the living body of Christ.

We must use our faith to do good works in this world, to fill our flask with oil so that when the bridegroom comes, we are not left waiting outside the door. May we ask God for the grace to serve Him here on earth so that one day we may see the bridegroom’s face.