His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains in this sermon the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, emphasizing that it is a call for continuous spiritual readiness for the Second Coming of Christ. It is not enough to rely on outward appearances or formal faith; the heart must be filled with the Holy Spirit working within the believer.

The Spiritual Meaning of the Number Five:
His Holiness clarifies that the number five in the Bible symbolizes human completeness, as man has five senses and five fingers. Thus, the five wise and five foolish virgins represent all humanity—the wise who live spiritually and the foolish who live carelessly.

Difference Between the Wise and the Foolish:
The wise virgins looked ahead and filled their lamps with oil (symbolizing the Holy Spirit), while the foolish relied on appearances and failed to prepare. Wisdom, therefore, is not in knowledge alone but in careful and practical spiritual living.

The Symbol of Oil:
Oil represents the work of the Holy Spirit in sanctifying and empowering the believer, as seen in the anointing of priests, prophets, and kings in the Old Testament, and in the Sacrament of Chrismation in the New Testament. The foolish virgins symbolize those who did not live in communion with the Spirit or walk in His power.

Message to Church Servants:
Pope Shenouda explains that this parable particularly concerns church servants who are devoted to God’s work. Some serve outwardly but lack spiritual depth. True faith is active and filled with divine love—not merely formal or external.

Spiritual Tragedy:
When the Bridegroom came at midnight (symbolizing divine surprise), the foolish virgins found their lamps extinguished. They sought oil too late, and the door was shut. They heard the fearful words: “I do not know you.” Just as righteousness cannot be transferred, spiritual fullness and repentance cannot be borrowed.

Final Message:
The sermon calls believers to constant spiritual vigilance, to fill their hearts with the Holy Spirit, and to live in daily repentance before the door of grace closes. The time of mercy is still open for those who desire the oil of eternal life.

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