Matthew 25:1-13

Our artwork today, a watercolour from 1799, in fact looks rather modern, almost Art Nouveau, showing that William Blake was well ahead of his time stylistically. On the left, we see the five elegantly dressed wise virgins, holding steadily their burning lanterns; to the right we have the five foolish virgins, portrayed as being agitated and drawn in a darker colour palette, with their oil lamps being all over the place. The trumpeting angel flying overhead announces that the moment of judgment has arrived.

Today’s gospel reading is a dramatic warning for us to be prepared for Our Lord whenever he comes to us. We must make sure that our lives (our ‘lamps’)  are kept alive with the oil of God’s Word. In that sense the oil in the lamps can be symbolic for the good deeds which each of us are called to do and that we may have to show when called to account by God. Like the wise virgins, we have to keep our little houses prepared and lit up for the Master’s return…

It is always a joy to read when light is referred to within the Gospel readings or depicted in art. Light always involves the removal of darkness. Light also reveals defects, damage and brokenness which need healing. Light is good. Jesus said he came as the Light of the World, therefore breaking through the darkness of sin by his passion his death on the cross. If we want to be true disciples of Christ, we too are called to be a light to the world... If each of us radiates light, then darkness will soon disappear!