Spiritual life is not a vague search for inner well-being

We can only speak of the kingdom of God if we "go out" and "meet" the Bridegroom.

Today’s readings can be found here.

(Readings from the Optional Memorial of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, virgin and martyr)

“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”

Before we start analyzing the difference between the wise virgins and the foolish virgins, I would like us to pause and look at an important detail: We can only speak of the kingdom of God if we “go out” and “meet” the Bridegroom.

There is no experience of faith that coincides with a static movement. True faith means stepping out of the loneliness of our self to go and discover what our true self can accomplish.

Therefore, all those people who use faith and religion to simply feel good about themselves are automatically cut off from this page of the Gospel. Spiritual life is not a vague search for inner well-being. It means going out to meet what can really fulfill us. Only after making this necessary clarification can we continue to follow the reasoning of the parable Jesus is telling.

For there are two ways of taking seriously the path of faith that Jesus calls the “kingdom of heaven.” There is a foolish way and a wise way.

Jesus makes it clear that there comes a time in life when we all are struck by a kind of overwhelming weariness. At that moment, we realize that all our strength is not enough to be ready for what is coming our way.

Jesus makes it clear that there comes a time in life when we all are struck by a kind of overwhelming weariness.

Both the foolish and the wise fall asleep, but the secret of the wise is in having stocked up on oil in small vessels. For it is training in the small things of life that prepares us to hold up before the big things that come our way. Those who have not been able to turn little things into treasure cannot manage the big things. Therein lies the secret of wisdom.

Father Luigi Maria Epicoco is a priest of the Aquila Diocese and teaches Philosophy at the Pontifical Lateran University and at the ISSR ‘Fides et ratio,’ Aquila. He dedicates himself to preaching, especially for the formation of laity and religious, giving conferences, retreats and days of recollection. He has authored numerous books and articles. Since 2021, he has served as the Ecclesiastical Assistant in the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and columnist for the Vatican’s daily newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.