Saturday, September 30 (17), 2023
1Cor. 14:20-25; Mt. 25:1-13                            

The Parable of the Ten Virgins [Mt. 25:1-13] has the following Patristic explanation.  The five wise virgins, soberly laboring to overcome their nature, have gotten the oil in the vessels of their hearts, that is, the Grace of the Spirit coming from above: therefore, they could enter into the Heavenly chamber with the Bridegroom.  The five foolish ones, with their nature unchanged, did not sober up, did not labor to acquire the oil of gladness into their vessels while still in the flesh, but, either out of negligence, or out of confidence in their righteousness, fell as if a-slumber ─ and because of that, unable to please the Bridegroom, they were not admitted to the Bridal chamber of the Kingdom.

Those who pursue super-natural holiness of the Spirit are bound to the Lord by their wholehearted love, they follow Him alone, rejecting everything unworthy of Him, aiming at Him with their prayers and thoughts, ─ they are granted the precious oil of Heavenly Grace.  And those souls who are bound by earthly ties and affections do not give their commitment and love to the Heavenly Bridegroom: they bring no oil with them.   Limited to their earthly nature, their thoughts creep upon the earth; their intentions are earthly, their mind resides on earth.  They could fancy of themselves that they belong to the Bridegroom, they might be decorated by physical virtues, but they have received no oil of gladness, no revival by the Heavenly Spirit.

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