I have always struggled with the parable of The Ten Bridesmaids. Perhaps it is the image of women waiting for a bridegroom, their worth seemingly measured by their readiness for his arrival. As a woman who values agency and independence, I find this marriage backdrop uncomfortable. And what of the five women locked out? Where is the mercy?
Perhaps this apparent discomfort is where my reflection begins. Jesus invites us to keep awake. But what does wakefulness mean in 2026?
We live in a world where algorithms increasingly determine what we see, read and hear. Each morning, we encounter a carefully curated version of reality, shaped by our preferences, habits and assumptions. Our greatest danger is believing ourselves wide awake when in fact we only see what the algorithm chooses to show us.
The wise bridesmaids carried oil for their lamps. Perhaps our oil is the curiosity, wisdom and courage to look beyond what is familiar, to question our assumptions and encounter those whose stories challenge us.
I still struggle with the women waiting, and the harshness of the closed door. But perhaps faithful engagement with Scripture requires wrestling with its discomfort, sitting with its paradoxes rather than explaining it away.
And perhaps keeping our lamps burning means remaining attentive enough to recognise Christ in those we might otherwise overlook. And what a hopeful invitation that is! Each new day offers another opportunity to open our eyes wider, listen more deeply and discover God’s presence in unexpected people and places.
We need not wait for Christ to arrive. We can choose to encounter him today, with open eyes, listening hearts and lamps burning brightly.
Virginia Fortunat