04.02 The lamp an outward sign

II. THE LAMP AN OUTWARD SIGN

They “took their lamps.” The lamps were plainly the outward signs that they were a company awaiting a bridegroom. This gives us a clue to their meaning in the parable. If we are companions of the Bride, Christians, members of the Church, our “lamps” are the outward signs of our Christian profession the religious habits which we observe, such as prayers, use of the Sacraments, attendance at Divine worship, or the good works which because we are Christians we try to do. These are all signs of that attitude of expectancy, that sense of incompleteness apart from Christ, which is involved in the Christian life.

They who say and do such things “declare plainly that they seek a country” that there is a completion of their life for which they crave. That at least is implied, whether sincerely or insincerely, in the outward signs of Christian profession in taking our lamps.

TAGS: [Parables]