Duration: 6:00
Completed: 2005
Instrumentation: Solo Organ
"The bridegroom tarried, and they all became drowsy and slept" (Matt. 25:5)
The parable of the ten virgins is part of the apocalyptic narrative in the New Testament.
It describes a sudden and total upheaval. The parable is disturbing because it is
difficult to understand with any certainty how one is supposed to interpret it. A close
reading seems to suggest that there is a riddle that we will not solve, but only have the
solution to by chance. Of the ten virgins, five are foolish and five are wise. The wise
ones have extra oil in their lamps and the foolish do not. They are all waiting for the
bridegroom, but does not come when any of the ten expect, and they all fall asleep. Then,
when the bridegroom comes, the wise virgins leave the foolish ones to buy oil because the
wise are concerned that they won't have enough for themselves if they give the foolish any.
When the foolish virgins arrive, they are locked out of the wedding and the feast, in the
darkness. Jesus ends the parable with "stay awake, therefore," which none of the virgins
were able to do. Are we asleep? What does this mean?