Parable of the Ten Virgins

那時候，耶穌對他的門徒說：「天國好比十個童女，拿著自己的燈出去迎接新郎。他們中五個是糊塗的，五個是明智的。糊塗的拿了燈，卻沒有隨身帶油；而明智的拿了燈，並且在壺裏帶了油。因為新郎延遲﹐她們都打盹睡著了。半夜有人喊說﹕新郎來了﹐你們出來迎接吧！那些童女遂都起來，裝備她們的燈。糊塗的對明智的說：把你們的油分些給我們吧！因為我們的燈也要滅了！明智的答說：怕為我們和你們都不夠，你們更好到賣油的地方去，為自己買吧！她們去買的時候，新郎到了；那準備好了的，就同他進去，共赴婚宴；門遂關上了。末後，其餘的童女也來了，說：主啊！主啊！給我們開門吧！他卻答說：我實在告訴你們：我不認識你們。所以你們該醒寤，因為你們不知道那日子，也不知道那時辰。」
瑪竇福音 25:1-13

在瑪竇福音中耶穌一連三個比喻，都是提醒我們一件事：為人子第二次來臨作好準備。

新郎是比喻耶穌基督，那十個等待迎接新郎的童女就是教會，進入婚宴就好比進入天國；我們在祈禱中常念：「願祢的國來臨」，但沒有人知道耶穌再度來臨並帶我們進入天國那日子何時會來。就是因為不知道，所以耶穌提醒我們總有些人因見祂遲遲還未回來，就態度變得鬆散，沒有遵從天主的教誨來生活。耶穌將會對這些人說：「我不認識你們。」就像那五個糊塗的童女雖然帶了燈，卻沒有足夠的油，新郎到來時想請求別人幫助已是不可能。

因此，我們要聽從耶穌的提醒，時常醒悟並作好準備，否則錯過了迎接新郎的時間，後悔也就來不及了。

「你們應當時時醒寤祈禱，為使你們能逃避即將發生的這一切事，並能立於人子之前。」(路21:36)

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.' While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!' But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Matthew 25:1-13

In the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus used three parables to warn us one thing: be prepared for the second coming of the Lord.

In the parable of the ten virgins, the bridegroom is Jesus Christ, the ten virgins waiting for bridegroom is the church, and entering into the wedding feast is entering into the kingdom of heaven. In the Lord's prayer we often pray, "Thy kingdom come," but no one knows when will Jesus come again and take us into His kingdom. And because we don't know, while there's still some time to wait, Jesus warns us that some people would take things easy and fail to live out God's teachings. And He'll say to them, "I do not know you." Just like the five foolish virgins who brought the lamps but not having enough oil, even if they try to seek help from others, it'll be too late and the door will be locked in front of them.

Therefore, be always prepared for the bridegroom's arrival, then no matter when He arrives, we'll be ready for Him and be able to enter His kingdom with Him.

“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)

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