In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we continue our journey through Holy and Great Week, today—Holy Tuesday—calls us to deep reflection on our spiritual readiness. The Gospel reading for today presents us with the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), a powerful lesson from our Lord about watchfulness, preparation, and the coming of the Bridegroom, Christ Himself.
Spiritual Watchfulness: The Call to Be Ready
In this parable, we hear of ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five were wise, keeping their lamps filled with oil, while five were foolish, neglecting to prepare extra oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom came at midnight, only the wise ones were ready to enter the wedding feast, while the others were left outside, knocking in desperation.
This imagery is striking. The bridegroom is Christ, and the wedding feast is the Kingdom of God. The lamps represent our souls, and the oil symbolizes our spiritual preparation—our faith, our prayers, our good works, and our inner holiness.
How often do we live as though we have endless time to prepare for Christ’s coming? Do we assume we can repent later, pray later, love later? But our Lord warns us: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
The Oil of Mercy and Love
The wise virgins teach us an important truth: Holiness cannot simply be borrowed at the last moment. The foolish virgins tried to borrow oil but were told, “Go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matthew 25:9). This is not selfishness on the part of the wise, but a lesson that our personal relationship with God cannot be substituted. Each of us must cultivate our own prayer life, repentance, and love.
What is this oil that we must keep burning? The Holy Fathers tell us that it is the oil of mercy, acts of love, charity, and prayer. It is the very presence of the Holy Spirit within us, nurtured through our participation in the life of the Church.
The Midnight Cry: Are We Prepared?
The bridegroom arrives at midnight—a time unexpected. This echoes the reality of our lives: death, judgment, and Christ’s Second Coming will come at a time we do not expect. Will we be found with lamps burning brightly, or will we be caught in spiritual laziness?
Holy Tuesday urges us: let us not delay repentance. Now is the time to seek Christ. Now is the time to fill our lamps with the oil of faith, love, and prayer. Now is the time to forgive, to reconcile, to serve, to give alms, and to grow in holiness.
Conclusion: Entering the Wedding Feast
As we continue this Holy Week, let us examine our hearts. Let us prepare diligently, with humility and vigilance. Let us be found among the wise virgins, whose lamps shine brightly when Christ calls.
May we never hear the dreadful words, “I do not know you.” Instead, may our lives be a testament to Christ’s love, and may we be welcomed with joy into the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb.
Through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos and all the saints, O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us.
Amen.
