In today's Old Testament reading the Lord says: "I will hear the heavens, and they will hear the earth." This is, of course, a special poetic biblical language, and these words can certainly be interpreted in many different ways. But one meaning that can be seen in them is this: we believe in the communion of saints. Perhaps this passage is speaking precisely about that communion. The heavens will hear the earth - the Church triumphant will hear the prayers of the pilgrim Church. And the Lord will hear the heavens - the prayers of the Church triumphant, of the angels and the saints.

The meaning of this parable is expressed in the final words: "Watch." But all ten virgins became drowsy! So the point is not simply to avoid drowsiness. Each of us has periods of spiritual relaxation and lack of gatheredness, for not everyone is able to burn in spirit all the time. Rather, the point is that, besides the burning lamp of faith, a person needs to have a certain "reserve of strength," a kind of spiritual resource that will help him, if needed, get up from his knees and trim the fading lamp.

This is not about some special strength, genius, or vigor. All these are gifts that only God can give. But there is something that depends chiefly on us: faithfulness, honesty before ourselves and God, and the desire to be with Him no matter what.

The vigilance to which Christ calls His disciples is constant readiness to meet the One who comes in the name of the Lord. The "wise virgins," whom the Lord sets before us as an example, prepared for a long wait and so could remain in the appointed place as long as the Bridegroom pleased. That is why they are ready for this meeting at any moment, even if the Bridegroom "was delayed." The "foolish" virgins, however, at the hour when the Bridegroom's arrival caught them, turned out to be occupied not with waiting to meet Him, but with getting ready.

The Lord is saying, then, that we do not have the option of being occupied with ourselves and with our own affairs and problems. The coming of the Kingdom is possible at any moment. From the beginning this thought inspired Christ's disciples to live in righteousness "already today," without putting off the cleansing of the heart until "later." At the same time, it is curious that when the Lord speaks about waiting for the coming of the Kingdom, He still hints to us that the Bridegroom "was delayed," thereby warning us against an excessive fascination with eschatology.