Today's Gospel in Art - The Parable of the wise and foolish virgins

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, after Pieter Bruegel the Elder Engraving by Philips Galle1563 © Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1928, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 8th November 2020 - Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told this parable to his disciples: 'The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, "The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him."

At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, "Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out." But they replied, "There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves." They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. "Lord, Lord," they said "open the door for us." But he replied, "I tell you solemnly, I do not know you." So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.'

Reflection on the Engraving

Today's engraving by Pieter Breughel the Elder is truly beautiful and worth looking at on a big screen as there is so much to look at. In the very centre, we see a banner inscribed 'Ecce sponsus venit exite obviam ei' (Behold, the bridegroom cometh. Go ye out to meet him). The left half of the engraving shows the wise virgins at work, labouring intensely and preparing (the inscription below reads "Date Nobis de Oleo Vestro, quia lampades nostrae extinguuntur" [And the foolish said unto the wise,] Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out). The right half shows the foolish virgins with the inscription below 'Nequaquam nequando non sufficiat nobis et vobis'. [But the wise answered, saying,] Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you.

The nicest detail however is the scene in the top left quarter of our engraving, depicting the wise virgins walking up the stairs and being greeted by Jesus opening the door. The foolish virgins on the right are dancing, empty wine cups are scattered around, and walking up the stairs, they find themselves in front of a closed door.

The gospel reading helps us to focus on the here and now. We have to follow Christ and prepare today, not tomorrow. If we wait for too long to follow Christ fully, then it will be too late. We have all been given the 'lamps of our lives', and spending time in prayer provides the oil to keep our spiritual flames alive and illuminating our path forward…

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/599

Christian Art - www.christian.art