And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterwards, the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 

But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 

Watch, therefore, for you know neither the 

day nor the hour.

(Matthew 25:10-13) 

 Matthew 25:1-13 

The parable ends in tragedy for the foolish maidens. They are locked out, and the bridegroom denies that he knows them. I think the question we are invited to reflect on today is, how am I living my life?

We do not know the day nor the hour of the coming of the Lord. We do not know when or how he will transform us and our societies. We are invited to be well prepared for his arrival without obsessing over certainty. We are invited to take responsibility for the way in which we live our lives.

Are we living our lives according to these values? Is my life following a path of foolishness, unpreparedness, and unawareness? Or am I living a meaningful life full of the joys and uncertainties of following Jesus?

The tragedy of the foolish maidens invites us to take stock of our lives. How am I living? How do I spend my time? What do I value, and what sort of choices do I make? Will I be able to light my lamp and follow the Lord’s call? Or will I find myself delayed, locked out, unrecognised?

How am I living my life? What changes might I need to make in my waiting for the Lord?

Reflections by Sean van Staden SJ

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