Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
The apparent delay of the bridegroom affected everyone, but the results were not the same for everyone. The five who were foolish seemed only prepared to wait a minimal amount of time. We might say that they insisted that the bridegroom come on their timeline and in accordance with their expectations. But might it be argued that this was a more natural response to a delay? They had, after all, planned in accord with what they understood the intent of the bridegroom to be. They had not budgeted for a long delay. It was as though the only response they could make to delay was disbelief. Why, after all, would the bridegroom suddenly change his plans for this most sacred and joyful event?
The five who were wise were not dismayed by the delay. They had clearly made up there minds to persist even in such a circumstance. Their thinking must have been more mature and what seemed like a delay to others must have seemed more like a legitimate variance to them. Otherwise the fact that they had enough oil to wait would have been superfluous and accidental, which was clearly not the case. Maybe to even call it a delay was a negative spin given by the foolish to excuse their own lack of preparedness and willingness to persevere. In any case, the wise were willing to trust that the bridegroom might have his own reasons to which they were not privy, to trust that whatever kept him from coming was worthy of his attention, and that this celebration was worth the wait.
At midnight, there was a cry,
'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
They had all succumbed to natural human weakness. But the wise had not given in to spiritual slumber. They were ready. They had prepared. For them the coming of the bridegroom at midnight was a joyful surprise, and they had all the oil they needed to go and meet him. But this oil of gladness was not something that could be shared, at least not directly and immediately. It was the result of their spiritual vigilance. It was like the persistence in prayer of the widow in that it was by a period of previous faithfulness, before there were any visible results, that they now still had an abundance. It was like a commitment to good works whether or not those good works bore any immediately beneficial results for oneself. More basically, it was the Holy Spirit on whom they relied for good works and faithfulness. And they couldn't simply suffuse the foolish in the Holy Spirit on command now that his presence had an obvious utility and value. The motive to receive him because now he was a useful last resort was too little, too late.
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.'
We want to make sure that we stock up on the oil that enables us to wait with steadfast preparedness for the coming of the bridegroom. Plans to change course at the last minute are too risky due to the potential for that situation taking us by surprise and amidst darkness wherein we are too lost to respond well. He has already made clear that his coming is not something we can predict, and that apparent delays are more a matter of our own inability to see the big picture.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (see Second Peter 3:9).
It seems that this so-called delay is not so that he can catch us by surprise but precisely so that more of us can be ready to welcome him. The Lord himself desires us to receive oil in abundance the oil we will need. Let us not be foolish ourselves, demanding immediate responses from a God who exists beyond time and space. And, as we feel sympathy for the foolish virgins in this parable, let that motivate us to share the oil we ourselves have received now, while time remains. If we know God's will for us we will be more responsive as he gives us the grace to live it out over the long haul. And what, precisely is that will? Paul tells us:
This is the will of God, your holiness
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