Although commentators and writers have found difficulty to explain many of the details in this parable, the general lesson is clear enough. Our Lord described an incident that happened or have happened at a wedding festival in order to bring home to his listeners the need for being ever vigilant and ready in his service if they wish to avoid the tragedy of being excluded from the heavenly and eternal nuptials on the last day. In the other parable in which our Lord uses a wedding feast to describe his kingdom, the lesson concerns those who reject the invitation and will not come to the wedding. Here it concerns those who gladly accepted the invitation.

The ten maidens in the parable represent all Christians. On receiving the sacrament of baptism, the Christians starts on the road to heaven; he gets his invitation to the heavenly nuptials but this is only the beginning. From the moments he comes to the use of reason he is expected to prepare himself by living according the law of God for the great moment when the call will go forth: ‘’Behold the bridegroom! Com to meet him.” This moment will be at the hour of death for each individual when each one’s eternal fate will be decided.

During our lifetime all of us are invited to the heavenly wedding, and all have the necessary means to get ready. But, like the foolish maidens, many will fail to make use of these means and will realize their folly when it is too late. Sad, but true. Now is the time for all of us to say: ‘’Lord, lord, open  to us’’ the doors of your mercy and kindness. Open to us the eyes of our understanding that we may see our defects and remedy them while there is yet time.