Daily Archives: 28 August, 2026

Living in a state of Grace. Reflections for married couples. Matthew 25:1-13

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Gospel according to Matthew 25:1–13
At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable, ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, “Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise answered, saying, “Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.” And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he answered, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’
Living in a state of Grace

When reading this parable, we may think that the wise virgins should have left some of their oil for the foolish ones. Humanly speaking, we may feel “sorry” for those five careless virgins who left their reserve of oil behind and went out to meet the bridegroom without being properly prepared. But the Lord gives us a very profound teaching here: the wise virgins represent the attitude of the believer who lives with their heart ready for Christ’s coming, and this attitude is personal and cannot be transferred, just as faith and Grace are. We can thus see the importance of living in a state of Grace, prepared to meet the Lord, for we never know when that moment will come. So, married couples, let us be prepared! Let us frequently receive the Sacraments, especially Confession, the Eucharist and our Sacrament of Marriage, in which Grace is made present in every act of self-giving and welcoming. And let us deepen our spousal relationship and our relationship with the Lord through marital and personal prayer. In this way, we will be prepared and watchful when the Bridegroom comes.

Applied to Married Life:

Michael: Hi, darling. How are you? You look very serious.
Amelia: Ugh! You can’t imagine… my mother has just called me and told me that my cousin Robert has died.
Michael: Oh, I’m so sorry. What happened?
Amelia: It was a car accident. He was on his way to a work meeting when another car crossed his path. I still can’t believe it; it feels like a nightmare. Just yesterday I was talking to him and he told me about a Marriage retreat they had attended and how it had changed their lives. And now this, with his children being so young. And do you know what my mother told me?
Michael: What?
Amelia: That Maria, who is now his widow, is at peace. She has the consolation that this weekend they had been to Mass and Robert had gone to Confession. So, despite the great pain, she has the consolation that he died in a state of Grace.
Michael: What faith! What an impressive and beautiful testimony. If you agree, let’s pray for Robert’s soul, and when some time has passed, we’ll go and visit Maria. I’m sure she will appreciate it, and we can ask her about that retreat and how it changed their lives. It must be something truly special.
Amelia: Thank you so much, Michael. I would really like to go and see her and make that retreat in memory of Robert. I know he would have loved it.

Mother,

You are our example of faith and humility. Help us to persevere so that, on the day the Lord calls us, we may have our lamps filled with the finest oil. Blessed be our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar!