In the Spirit of Feria VI After the VI Sunday After Epiphany
The liturgical readings chosen for this time of the year guide us deeper into the virtues of wisdom, vigilance, and the grace of preparation for the coming of the Lord. Drawing from Ecclus 51:13-17, the hymn of thanksgiving for wisdom, and Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the ten virgins, we are invited to reflect on the treasure of divine wisdom and its role in guiding us to eternal beatitude.
Wisdom: The Gift Earnestly Sought
In Ecclus 51:13-17, we hear the heartfelt prayer of one who has sought wisdom with all their soul. The supplicant acknowledges the trials endured in the pursuit of wisdom, exclaiming, “I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.” St. Augustine, in his Confessions, reflects on a similar journey, noting that the soul’s restlessness finds peace only in God, the source of true wisdom. He writes, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
The Church Fathers often associate this search for wisdom with the action of grace in the soul. St. Ambrose, commenting on this passage, teaches that the labor and perseverance in seeking wisdom signify the moral effort required to cooperate with God’s grace. Wisdom, according to St. Ambrose, is not merely human prudence but participation in the divine life, manifest in Christ, “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:24).
Thus, we see in this prayer from Ecclesiasticus a prefigurement of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Seat of Wisdom, who perfectly embodied this pursuit by her total fiat to the divine will.
Vigilance: The Bridegroom is Coming
In Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the ten virgins underscores the necessity of vigilance in the spiritual life. Five of the virgins are wise, having brought oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and unprepared. St. John Chrysostom exhorts us to see the oil as a symbol of good works and charity, without which faith is barren. He writes, “Faith alone does not suffice; lamps are of no use without oil. A soul cannot meet its Bridegroom without the light of virtue.”
The Bridegroom’s delayed arrival represents the unpredictability of Christ’s Second Coming, a theme closely tied to the eschatological focus of the liturgical calendar following Epiphany. The wise virgins, prepared with their oil, mirror the soul adorned with virtue and nourished by the sacraments. In contrast, the foolish virgins are a warning against spiritual complacency. St. Gregory the Great offers a sobering reflection: “The careless soul does not lose the lamp itself, that is, the faith, but it loses the oil, which is the brightness of good works.”
A Call to Preparation
Both readings converge on the theme of preparation as the hallmark of true wisdom. The Bridegroom’s call, “Behold, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him,” reminds us of the urgency to remain vigilant. The Church Fathers liken this to the call to holiness, which must be heeded daily, not postponed. St. Cyril of Jerusalem teaches that readiness is cultivated through prayer, fasting, and acts of mercy, aligning the heart with the divine will.
As we meditate on these passages, let us remember that wisdom is both a gift to be sought and a habit to be cultivated through grace and cooperation with God’s will. The wise virgins inspire us to keep our spiritual lamps filled with the oil of virtue, always ready to meet Christ, the Bridegroom of our souls.
Conclusion: Seeking Wisdom, Preparing for Eternity
The readings today remind us that the spiritual life demands effort, vigilance, and trust in God. The hymn of Ecclesiasticus encourages us to persist in the pursuit of divine wisdom, while the parable in Matthew calls us to prepare with urgency and joy for the final encounter with Christ.
Let us pray with the words of St. Augustine:
“Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself to me. Behold, I love you, and if my love is too weak, grant me the grace to love you more.”
May we be among the wise who keep their lamps burning brightly, so that when the Bridegroom comes, we may enter with Him into the eternal wedding feast.